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Gold holds steady, set for fourth weekly gain on US-Iran deal optimism

2026-04-18 00:00:00

Gold held broadly steady on Friday, poised for a fourth straight weekly rise, supported by optimism over a potential US-Iran peace deal that cooled inflation fears and pushed the dollar lower, reports Reuters.Spot gold was largely flat at $4,799.85 per...

Top European oil companies outshine US rivals with Iran war trading bonanza

2026-04-18 00:00:00

LONDON, April 17 (Reuters): The trading desks of Europe's top three oil majors have reaped billions of dollars from the energy supply crunch caused by the Iran war, eclipsing their more cautious U.S. rivals and helping offset the conflict's impact...

DeepSeek raising funds at $10b valuation

2026-04-18 00:00:00

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is in talks with investors to raise at least $300 million at a valuation of $10 billion, according to a report published in The Information on Friday, reports Reuters.The company, whose low-cost models took the...

Wall Street indexes rally after Iran opens Hormuz

2026-04-18 00:00:00

Wall Street's main indexes jumped on Friday after investors cheered Iran's decision to open the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire accord agreed in Lebanon, reports Reuters.Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced in a post on X that passage for...

Equity fund inflows rise as war risks ebb, upbeat earnings boost mood

2026-04-18 00:00:00

Global equity funds received a fourth successive weekly inflow in the week through April 15 as upbeat earnings and increased optimism that the Iran war could be resolved more quickly than expected boosted risk appetite, reports Reuters.Investors allocated a net...

NCC BANK SIGNS AGREEMENTS WITH SME FOUNDATION

2026-04-18 00:00:00

NCC Bank has recently signed two financing agreements with SME Foundation aimed at expanding access to finance for Cottage, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (CMSMEs). The agreements cover the Credit Wholesaling Programme under the government's Revolving Fund and a participation...

Stocks end flat as investors await cues

FE REPORT | 2026-04-18 00:00:00

Stocks closed flat this week as investors remained cautious amid lingering uncertainty surrounding ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran, keeping overall market sentiment subdued.Market participants said the bourse is currently in a consolidation phase, as investors lack strong directional...

Geopoliticonomy revisited

Abdullah A Dewan | 2026-04-18 00:00:00

A thoughtful reader of my recent article (April 7, 2026, P-4, FE) raised a pertinent question: Is "geopoliticonomy" meant to be a formal model, or is it simply a descriptive expression? The question is important-not because it challenges the validity...

Gas crisis suffocating industries

2026-04-18 00:00:00

If you walk into almost any manufacturing unit in Gazipur, Ashulia, or Narayanganj today, you will not hear the usual deafening hum of machinery. Instead, you are likely to find factory managers staring anxiously at pressure gauges. The harsh reality...

Are we ready for a 4-day workweek?

2026-04-18 00:00:00

In recent years, nations like the United Kingdom and Japan have experimented with fewer working days without sacrificing output, drawing attention to the concept of a four-day workweek. It is worth considering whether such a model could work in Bangladesh's...

Living with donor conditions

Syed Muhammed Showaib | 2026-04-18 00:00:00

Complaints about donor conditionality are a staple of political conversation in Bangladesh. The common argument is that foreign lenders use their money to impose their preferences, attaching conditions to loan disbursements that do not always match the country's needs or...

Stepping up process to select operator for SPM

2026-04-18 00:00:00

To save both time and money in unloading crude and refined petroleum products from deep-sea oil tankers at the outer anchorage to an onshore storage facility, the then-autocratic regime in 2015 took up the Single-Point Mooring (SPM) project at an...

Forensic audit frameworks

Md Touhidul Alam Khan | 2026-04-17 12:00:00

In today’s globalised, fast-changing financial landscape, banking rests on uninterrupted trust and transparency. While reputable banks are often known for integrity, ethics and strong controls, modern banking’s complexity — technological risks and sophisticated financial misconduct — means routine audits alone...

USET team meets UGC chairman

2026-04-17 00:00:00

USET board of trustees (BoT) Chairman Shakhawat Hossain and UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed discussed campus development, quality education, innovation in skill-based learning and collaboration during a meeting recently.They also discussed the development of a permanent campus of University...

Shabnam Huq's 26th death anniv today

2026-04-17 00:00:00

The 26th death anniversary of Shabnam Huq, wife of Arham Asudul Huq - former chief executive officer of Dhaka Bank Foundation, is being observed today (April 17). All are requested to pray for the salvation of the departed soul.

Third death anniv of journo Mashuqul Huq today

2026-04-17 00:00:00

The third death anniversary of senior journalist Mashuqul Huq will be observed today (April 17), says a press release. Mr. Huq, began his journalism career with The Bangladesh Observer. Later, he worked with The Daily Star and The Daily Telegraph....

BD Journalism Conf’ce in city May 8-9

FE REPORT | 2026-04-17 00:00:00

Media professionals, academics and international experts are set to convene in the capital next month (May) for a major conference - aimed at examining the evolving challenges of journalism and charting a future course for the profession.The Bangladesh Journalism Conference...

First Hajj flight to take off Saturday

TALHA BIN HABIB | 2026-04-17 00:00:00

The maiden Hajj flight is set to depart from Dhaka for the Saudi port city Jeddah at 12:20 am on Saturday (April 18), as the government has completed all necessary preparations to facilitate the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.A total of 78,500...

Internet banking transactions up over 32pc in July-Jan of FY 26

JASIM UDDIN HAROON | 2026-04-17 00:00:00

Internet banking transactions in the country's financial sector recorded robust growth during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, according to Bangladesh Bank data.The trend indicates an accelerating shift towards digital financial services, helping save both time and...

Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon

2026-04-17 00:00:00

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon at his secretariat office in the capital on Thursday. State Minister for Information Yeaser Khan Choudhury was also present. — PID

Solid waste management in all urban settings untapped

MUNIMA SULTANA | 2026-04-17 00:00:00

Solid waste management in all urban settings remains untapped despite the yearly doubling trend of its generation in the country as the authorities concerned have not yet implemented the Solid Waste Management Rules in the past four years.Experts blamed the...

Indictment hearing in Tulip's Gulshan flat scam case on May 6

2026-04-17 00:00:00

A Dhaka court has set May 6 for a charge-framing hearing in a case filed against Tulip Siddiq, niece of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former assistant legal adviser of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Sardar Mosharraf Hossain for allegedly...

Swapon pledges all-out support for dev of women journos

2026-04-17 00:00:00

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has assured all possible support for the development and advancement of women journalists, , reports BSS.He made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with a delegation from the Bangladesh Women Journalists Forum...

MP Hanzala demands death penalty for insulting Prophet

2026-04-17 00:00:00

Sayed Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, a lawmaker from Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis representing Madaripur-1, on Wednesday called for the enactment of legislation that would impose the death penalty for insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), reports UNB.He also urged the introduction of a law...

AL sent 12 cadre officers on forced retirement

2026-04-17 00:00:00

State Minster for Public Administration Abdul Bari has said a total of 12 BCS admin officers were sent on forced retirement during previous Awami League regime, reports BSS.Replying to a scripted question from treasury bench member Shamsur Rahman Simul Biswas...

Mia Golam Porwar speaking at a press conference of the 11-Party Alliance

2026-04-17 00:00:00

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar speaking at a press conference of the 11-Party Alliance at Al-Falah Auditorium in the capital's Mogbazar area on Thursday. — Focus Bangla

BNP interviews candidates for women's reserved seats today

2026-04-17 00:00:00

BNP will start interview of nomination seekers for women's reserved seats in the 13th Parliament today (Friday), reports UNB. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the schedule at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office...

11-Party starts nationwide protest progs tomorrow

FE REPORT | 2026-04-17 00:00:00

The 11-Party Alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced nationwide protest programmes beginning tomorrow (Saturday) to demand the implementation of the July Charter in line with the referendum results. The alliance will stage demonstrations in the capital, while similar programmes...

Chief whip hails PM's Time 100 placement

2026-04-17 00:00:00

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni has extended a formal congratulation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in parliament following his inclusion in Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, reports bdnews24.com.During his floor speech on Thursday,...

Effective steps taken to withdraw harassment cases: Law minister

2026-04-17 00:00:00

Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman has told parliament that the government has taken effective steps to withdraw politically motivated harassment cases filed during the tenure of the previous Awami League regime, report agencies."The current government is fully aware about the withdrawal...