BRAC BANK WINS REMITTANCE AWARD -

BRAC Bank has been honoured with the Top Ten Remittance Award at the World Conference Series 2026, recognising its strong contribution to facilitating inward remittances and supporting Bangladesh's economy. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon handed over the award...

BANK ASIA, SME FOUNDATION SIGN AGREEMENTS

Bank Asia and SME Foundation recently signed two agreements aimed at providing SME entrepreneurs with access to financing on easy and affordable terms. Under the SME Foundation's refinance fund through the credit wholesaling programme, entrepreneurs will be able to avail...

Stocks fall as Trump orders blockade of Strait of Hormuz

HONG KONG, April 13 (AFP): Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears for energy supplies from the Middle East.Negotiations...

Dhaka bourse dips 41 points amid lack of catalysts

The Dhaka bourse closed Monday's session with a moderate loss of 41 points, as many investors opted for sell-offs while others remained on the sidelines in the absence of any visible market direction.The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) opened the session...

Investor losses top Tk 5b, recovery plan for scam-hit brokers remains unclear

Investors have continued to endure partial or complete erosion of their assets, with total claimed losses surpassing Tk 5 billion as of March due to scams and embezzlement by brokers.Only a fraction of the amount-Tk 0.53 billion-has so far been...

Dearth of paediatrics deprives children of better care

BENAPOLE, Apr 13: Children of Jashore's Sharsha and Jhikargacha upazilas have been deprived of better medical care due to the lack of paediatricians in the upazilas' two government hospitals, which have sanctioned posts for specialised doctors for children.Victims say one...

Haimchar farmers opting for black cumin farming

CHANDPUR, Apr 13: Farmers in Haimchar upazila of Chandpur district are increasingly showing interest to grow Kalo Jira (black cumin) in their fields finding it to be an economically viable venture. While talking to the FE, farmers Rubel Moishal, Serajul...

A remote village hanging on to the century-old clay craft

RAJSHAHI, Apr 13: With the Bangla New Year Pahela Baishakh around the corner, a small village in Rajshahi becomes vibrant and exciting with colour and activity. In Bosontopur village under Nowhata municipality in Paba upazila, artisans are working tirelessly to...

State's responsibility in nurturing talents

Every year, more than 1.2 million students pass the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in Bangladesh with aspirations for higher education. However, fewer than 50,000 seats are available in the country's 56 public universities, leaving the vast majority with limited...

Pre-shipment finance

Bangladesh Bank issued a circular to support exporters amid ongoing vulnerabilities, as exports have been declining compared to the previous year. The circular allows exporters to avail pre-shipment finance under the Export Facilitation Pre-Finance Fund (EFPF). Under this scheme, Bangladesh...

Building a strategic fuel oil reserve

Bangladesh’s vulnerability to any disruption in the global energy supply chain has been amply demonstrated during the US-Israel’s war on Iran. For, as soon as Iran, in retaliation for the attack, blocked the narrow maritime chokepoint, called the Strait of...

US-Iran conflict: Diplomacy is indispensable

The inconclusive end of the Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran is, depending on how one looks at it, either a disappointment or a fragile sign of hope. There was no agreement, no grand announcement, no handshake moment...

Welcoming Pahela Baishakh

Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali as well as the ethnic communities' New Year, is an occasion for great celebration. But today's celebration is taking place against the lingering shadow of hostility far beyond our territory in the Persian Gulf. Although the...

What foreign investors want to see in Bangladesh

Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its economic trajectory. With sustained gross domestic product (GDP) growth, a large domestic market, and a favorable demographic profile, the country possesses the structural fundamentals required to attract significantly higher levels of Foreign...

How Asian economies can manage global risks

How are developing Asia and the Pacific’s growth being affected by subdued global trade and the Middle East conflict?Growth is moderating, but holding up. Assuming an early stabilisation in the Middle East conflict, regional growth is forecast at 5.1 per...

Big nat’l budget coming to finance important sectors

With a trillion?dollar economy in vision by 2034, the new government plans a big budget worth Tk 9.30 trillion for the next fiscal year for augmented funding of critically important sectors.In order to finance the substantially raised annual spending plan,...

When fuel stops moving, the economy stops

When operations at Mongla Port slow to a near standstill because vessels cannot access fuel, it is tempting to view the disruption as a temporary inconvenience. The reality is far more serious. What has unfolded is not an isolated breakdown—it...

Shafique Ahmed no more

Noted lawyer Barrister Shafique Ahmed passed away at around 5:30 pm on Sunday at a hospital in the capital, family sources said. He was 89, reports BSS.He served as the Technocrat Law Minister from 2009 to 2014. He served as...

Stranded BD ships to cross Hormuz soon

The Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, has expressed optimism that Bangladeshi vessels currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz will soon be able to pass safely despite ongoing regional tensions.Speaking on Sunday at a memorial gathering held at...

CHT festive for Sangrain, Boisabi

CHATTOGRAM, Apr. 12: The entire Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) wore a festive look as the traditional 'Sangrain' festival of the Marma community and Boishabi of the Chakma community began today (Sunday) amid great enthusiasm and fanfare. The tribal people started...

Govt to launch unified digital health system with ADB support

The government is set to roll out a comprehensive digital health system, integrating a broad range of eHealth services, including mobile health (mHealth), while expanding into emerging areas, such as big data analytics, genomics, and artificial intelligence, officials at the...

DU ready to welcome Pohela Boishakh

Dhaka University (DU) is prepared to celebrate 'Pohela Boishakh' 1433, the first day of the Bangla New Year, with a series of vibrant and inclusive programmes tomorrow (Tuesday). This year's celebration theme is "Harmony of the New Year, Revival of...

JCD launches campaign on water, power conservation at DU

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has initiated an awareness campaign at Dhaka University on Sunday, with the objective of encouraging students to conserve water and electricity in the context of ongoing global resource constraints.JCD Central Library Secretary Touhidul Islam inaugurated...

Tanti Dal leader stabbed to death in Khulna

KHULNA, Apr 12 (UNB): A local Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal leader has been stabbed to death by miscreants in the Khalishpur area of the city.The deceased is M Sona Mia, president of ward No. 10 unit of Tati Dal and son...

EC to unveil updated voter list on May 14

The Election Commission (EC) will publish the updated final voter list on May 14, EC Director (Public Relations) and Information Officer Md Ruhul Amin Mallick said on Sunday, reports BSS.A letter regarding the publication and finalisation of the draft voter...

BNP trying to monopolise credit for key historical milestones: Shafiqur

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has questioned the BNP's claim over the 1971 Liberation War, pointing out that the party had not even been formed at the time, reports bdnews24.com.Speaking at a view-exchange meeting with the families of July slain and...

Ex-Speaker Shirin Sharmin walks out of jail on bail

GAZIPUR, Apr 12 (UNB): Hours after securing bail in an attempt to murder case, former Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was freed from Kashimpur Central Jail on Sunday. She walked out of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail around 6:30 pm after...

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed administered the oath to the newly-elected MPs from Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed administered the oath to the newly-elected MPs from Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies - Rezaul Karim Badsha and Mahmudul Hasan Rubel respectively - at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital on Sunday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman...

Govt to consult stakeholders to strengthen key ordinances: Salahuddin

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the government is committed to further refining several key ordinances, including those related to enforced disappearance, the Human Rights Commission, and the appointment of Supreme Court judges, through consultations with relevant stakeholders, reports BSS."The...

Dhaka urges Iran to ensure safe Hormuz passage for BD-bound vessels

Bangladesh urged Tehran to facilitate safe passage of Bangladesh-bound vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid Persian Gulf crisis as Iranian Ambassador Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday,...