Exploring the fintech landscape & opportunities in Bangladesh

The financial technology (fintech) industry is currently experiencing a significant transition in both its technological advancements and business models. Regardless of whether one is the CEO of a well-established financial institution or the founder of a fledgling fintech startup, maximising...

From Mao's China to Xi's China

China is going places. It is everywhere. It is reshaping geopolitics. In these past few weeks and months, Beijing's reach has extended to regions in a manner that has left many beyond China impressed. Conversely, China's growing influence has had...

HS code-related issues to go soon, NBR chief tells importers

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 15: National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem offered reassurance to the country's business community that import issues related to the harmonised system (HS) codes would soon be resolved. Speaking at a pre-budget discussion...

Duty-free import of capital goods, raw materials likely for all

All across the board in production chain may enjoy the facility of duty-free import of capital goods and raw materials under trade strategies being broached to steer post-graduation Bangladesh, sources said. This is among a package of measures to be...

Move to relocate it for building MRT-5 stations

The inter-district bus terminal at Gabtoli would be shifted to a nearby suitable place for a temporary period to facilitate construction of two underground stations of Mass Rapid Transit Line 5 (MRT-5) there.The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and...

E-TIN hardware crash snaps services

The e-TIN services remained suspended across the country since its hardware crashed on Tuesday night.Due to technical glitches in the hardware of the electronic Taxpayer Identification Number (e-TIN) system, a senior official at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) said,...

Here is why SME stocks plunged as quickly as it had shot up

SME stocks have been through the pain of price erosions between 14 per cent and 65 per cent in the past seven months since they peaked. The only exception is Yousuf Flour Mills that surged abnormally on the SME board....

Gender equality through a more creative approach

Most Successful male leaders, whether in the financial sector, political sector, or elsewhere have a comparatively better support system for career development which includes their parents, siblings, spouses, and spouses' family and the employer. The time and resources given by...

Championing people-centric diplomacy

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC) held in Doha, Qatar on 4-9 March 2023. The Conference was organised with the theme 'LDC5: From Potential and Prosperity'. Prime Minister Hasina...

Multinational cos keep larger pie of 2022 profits to deal with future threats

Unilever Consumer Care has kept aside nearly half of its profit made in 2022 and the other half will be distributed to shareholders in cash dividends for the year. It, however, gave out almost 100 per cent of its profits...

Women's development, empowerment and gender equality

Women's development, empowerment, and gender equality are all vast topics and have many windows to look from. One approach could be to divide these factors into two broad areas, i.e., key challenges and recommended solutions. Interestingly, both areas can be...

On economic theories & Bangladesh development miracle

Books by two prominent Bangladeshi economists have been published simultaneously and both by renowned international publishers. But their resemblances are superficial and end there as the books' content are as different as apple is from orange, their taxonomy notwithstanding.Professor Wahiduddin...

Making Ramadan meaningful to all

That the prices of essential commodities have been going up ahead of the holy month of Ramadan is no news. People know this and can also forecast how the kitchen market will behave at what points of time before and...

Global price index drops, Bangladesh's skyrockets

Food prices have globally declined in February for the 11th consecutive month, reports the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, which keeps a tab on the monthly international price index of food commodities. Bangladesh, contrary to this...

Allowing public some breathing space

The government in its revised budget for the current fiscal year is going to increase the allocation for operational expenditures which involve costs of running the administration, maintenance work, repairs, etc. Oddly though, this is being done at the expense...

UAE for VAT waiver with retrospective effect

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sought waiver of VAT (value-added tax) on three Emirati airlines retrospectively, alleging that such levy is against globally accepted standards.Following assurances of considering this remission by the PM herself to a UAE diplomat, the...

DSE's aim to sell Shariah index data fails investors

Investors and stakeholders have no free access to the DSE Shariah index (DSES) as the Dhaka bourse has been managing it for the purpose of business.Market operators pay the Dhaka Stock Exchange for information about the companies listed on the...

Price hike: demand-driven or speculative?

The holy month of Ramadan is approaching and the prices of necessaries are also rising persistently. It turns out to be a perennial phenomenon in Bangladesh, in particular. No doubt that demand for various food items usually increases before Ramadan,...

Adani to supply electricity at lowest rate now, future unclear

The cost of electricity from India's Adani Power, which started transmission on Thursday evening, is set to be lower than that of any of the existing coal-power plants in Bangladesh, for now, though future remains unclear.The energy charge in the...

Exporter clinches deal for local supply of edible oil

An export-oriented company clinches deal to supply edible oil to feed local demand amid a persisting crisis and its sharp price rises, officials said.The National Board of Revenue, on government suggestion, also took into consideration the export company's oil-export market...

Shipping cost drops as larger vessels can enter Ctg port after Karnaphuli capital dredging

CHATTOGRAM: After completion of the capital dredging of the Karnaphuli River, the shipping cost has come down as 10-metre draft vessels can now berth at the Chittagong port.Earlier, lighter ships used to transport goods to and from larger vessels anchored...

The village we left and the village it is now

Dhaka city is heating up notwithstanding the fact that it is only the third week of Falgun, the first month of the Spring known as the king of seasons. But 250-kilometre apart, a village in Barishal's Agailjhara upazila sharing its...

Countering man-made disasters

Accidents at industrial units or factories can happen due to human errors and oversight or may have explanations involving factors at times beyond control. But when disaster strikes out of the blue at home or commercial establishments, people have reasons...

No scarcity of essentials ahead of Ramadan as supply adequate

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 09: There will not be any shortage of essential commodities in the coming fasting month of Ramadan as the supply of consumer goods is so far adequate. Traders based in Chattogram's Khatunganj, the largest wholesale goods market in...

Imran Khan and the history of political incarceration

Pakistan's police have been trying for days to take former Prime Minister Imran Khan into custody on the basis of judicial directives. They have attempted to serve him with summons issued by the court. They have failed to do that...

Metrorail jobs get lukewarm response from women

The newly-introduced Metro Rail, the country's first ever sophisticated urban train communication system, has become a dream-come-true project to many young job seekers. But it has yet to attract woman professionals that much.The Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Company Limited (DMTCL)...

P/E ratio, good governance & future projection key to investment decisions

Investors should consider professionalism, experience and previous records of fund managers while investing in mutual funds, said the CEO of ICB Asset Management Company Ltd (ICB AMCL). ICB AMCL has been ensuring good returns for unit holders through prudent investment...

Listed MFs: What lucrative returns over last 5 years suggest

Investor participation in transactions of listed mutual funds (MFs) was nearly zero percent of the total March 2 turnover of the Dhaka Stock Exchange. The 36 MFs saw transactions amounting to Tk 0.7 million only on the day while the...

From 'blah' to brilliant

"Her life was not a bed of roses, it was rather shaky and her struggles were too real. She somehow managed to balance all the crises in her life and grow. She completed her graduation and today is her convocation...

Shared Prosperity: A vision for South Asia

The vision of shared prosperity becomes more relevant if one compares the development trajectory of South Asian countries, who have made substantial progress. Some South Asian countries have already graduated to middle income status while others are making their way...