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Export-import operations getting in full gear with systems resurrection

DOULOT AKTER MALA | 2024-07-26 00:00:00

Export-import operations get back in full gear with the resurrection of electronic systems of port processing after a breakdown amid countrywide internet blackout. Both Chittagong Custom House and Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) have said the internet-network systems are now working...

Banks, NBFIs borrow Tk 255b in a single day from BB

FE REPORT | 2024-07-26 00:00:00

Post-closure pressure for cliental rush sends commercial banks and nonbank financial institutions into a frenzy of borrowing from the central bank, some Tk 255.21 billion in a single day.The exigent cash feeding by the Bangladesh Bank took place on Wednesday--the...

Prisoners of technology, are we?

Syed Badrul Ahsan | 2024-07-26 00:00:00

Sometimes you tend to miss the old days. Life was much easier. There was no internet, no technology in that modern sense of the meaning. Not much of tension was there. In broad terms something of the pristine was there...

Addressing the inflation crisis

2024-07-26 00:00:00

Inflation has been a persistent challenge for several years, with no apparent end in sight. Recent reports indicate that overall inflation in the country has consistently remained above 9.0 per cent, significantly outpacing the income growth of average citizens.The high...

Mindless honking

Shiabur Rahman | 2024-07-26 00:00:00

Bangladesh is perhaps one of the places in the world where vehicle warning devices like horns and sirens are used most indiscriminately. The overdose of honking on roads and in the surrounding areas takes not only a heavy toll on...

Can the wonder sweetener stevia replace sugar?

Nilratan Halder | 2024-07-26 00:00:00

Perennially deficient in production and dependent on import of sugar, Bangladesh stands hardly any chance of overcoming this problem in the near future. The mismatch between sugarcane cultivation and the obsolete production facilities is best illustrated by the closure of...

Damage internet breakdown did to tech sector

2024-07-26 00:00:00

To have a complete picture of how much damage the five days' (between 18 and July 23) unforeseen internet shutdown has inflicted on the country's business and economy will, perhaps, take months, maybe years, to assess. But if taken into...

Life returning to normal

FE REPORT | 2024-07-25 12:00:00

Offices, banks, trade centres and factories Wednesday resumed functioning on curfew-truncated timings as Bangladesh begins bouncing back from five days of deadlock during quota protests.Firsthand reports said the capital city, in particular, started returning into its usual ambience for the...

Gold prices rise on softer dollar

2024-07-25 00:00:00

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters): Gold prices rose on Wednesday as the dollar slipped with investors' focus shifting to U.S. economic data due this week for fresh signals on the timing of the central bank's interest rate cuts.Spot gold was...

Thailand unveils billion-dollar scheme to boost economy

2024-07-25 00:00:00

BANGKOK, July 24 (AFP): Thailand's government unveiled a billion-dollar handout scheme on Wednesday that it hopes will boost the flagging economy but warned recipients would not be allowed to spend the money on marijuana, jewellery or lottery tickets.More than 50...

Japan plans record hike in minimum wage

2024-07-25 00:00:00

TOKYO, July 24 (Reuters): A panel at the Japanese labour ministry has decided to raise the national average minimum wage by about 5 per cent to 1,054 yen ($6.85) per hour this fiscal year, the biggest ever jump, public broadcaster...

NRB Bank launches Offshore Banking

2024-07-25 00:00:00

NRB Bank Ltd has opened Offshore Banking Unit (OBU) with the slogan 'Banking Beyond Boundary'. Mohammed Mahtabur Rahman, Chairman of the bank, formally inaugurated the Offshore Banking Unit at the bank's corporate head office in Dhaka recently. Vice Chairmen Golam...

India likely to ease curbs on some Chinese investments

2024-07-25 00:00:00

NEW DELHI, July 24 (Reuters): India is likely to ease restrictions on Chinese investment in non-sensitive sectors like solar panels and battery manufacturing where New Delhi lacks expertise and which hinders domestic manufacturing, two government sources said.The government plans to...

Luxury brands suffer as Chinese shoppers hold back

2024-07-25 00:00:00

BEIJING, July 24 (BBC): China's economic slowdown and a crackdown by Beijing on displays of wealth are taking a toll on some of the world's top luxury brands.LVMH says its sales in Asia, which include China but not Japan, fell...

Reopening of offices and businesses

2024-07-25 00:00:00

With the reopening of offices and businesses, a clothing vendor finds some customers seeking to make purchases. The photo was taken on the New Market premises in the capital on Wednesday. — FE photo

PM invites Malaysia to set up full Perodua car production facility in Bangladesh

2024-07-25 00:00:00

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday invited Malaysia to set up full manufacturing facilities for their Perodua cars in Bangladesh.She said this when outgoing Malaysian High Commissioner Haznah Md. Hashim called on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), reports...

Basabari Bazar: Country's largest arum market

OUR CORRESPONDENT | 2024-07-25 00:00:00

BENAPOLE, July 24: Basabari Bazar in Sharsha upazila of Jashore district is the largest wholesale arum (mukhi kachu) market in the country.Local farmers sell lakhs of takas of mukhi kachu every day from morning till midnight in this market. They...

Bumper Boro yield brings smile to Chandpur farmers

OUR CORRESPONDENT | 2024-07-25 00:00:00

CHANDPUR, July 24: Local farmers have expressed satisfaction over the massive production of Boro paddy this season due to favourable weather and easy availability of agri inputs.Now, farmers fear they would not get the fair price of their produce in...

Poor find no work to defray family costs amid curfew

OUR CORRESPONDENTS | 2024-07-25 00:00:00

People on low incomes, especially day-labourers, across districts have been leading a miserable life in near starvation, as they found no work for the past three days amid the ongoing countrywide curfew.In Rangpur, thousands of rickshaw-pullers, day-labourers, street vendors or...

News in Brief -2024-07-25

2024-07-25 00:00:00

200,000 NZ children, adults abused in careWELLINGTON, July 24: Some 200,000 New Zealanders held in care were abused over decades, a public inquiry reported Wednesday, prompting an apology from the country's prime minister who vowed reform. The authors of the...

US invites Sudan warring sides for talks

2024-07-25 00:00:00

WASHINGTON, July 24 (AFP): The United States announced Tuesday that it had invited Sudan's warring sides to hold ceasefire talks in Switzerland next month.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had invited Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces...

July 22 sets new record for hottest day globally

2024-07-25 00:00:00

PARIS, July 24 (AFP): Earth withered through a second-straight day of record-breaking heat on July 22, the EU's climate monitor said Wednesday, as large parts of Europe, Asia and North America suffer blistering temperatures.Preliminary data from the Copernicus Climate Change...

Starmer faces first House of Commons grilling

2024-07-25 00:00:00

LONDON, July 24 (AFP): Keir Starmer faces his first House of Commons grilling as UK prime minister on Wednesday, after suspending seven of his own Labour MPs for rebelling over a controversial welfare policy.Starmer suspended the Labour rebels late Tuesday...

Root closes in on No.1 Test batter ranking

2024-07-25 00:00:00

England players have made significant gains in the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings after their emphatic win over West Indies in the 2nd Test match. Harry Brook jumped to a career-best 3rd ranking after his century knock at Trent Bridge....

Sri Lanka should take advantage of India stars' retirements in T20 series

2024-07-25 00:00:00

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 24 (AP): Sri Lanka should take maximum advantage of the absence of three India stars in their upcoming three-match Twenty20 series, interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya said on Wednesday.Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from...

Only captains allowed to speak with referees at Olympics

2024-07-25 00:00:00

PARIS, July 24 (Reuters): Only captains will be allowed to speak and discuss decisions with the referee during the Olympics, FIFA said on Wednesday following the rule's first implementation at last month's European Championship.FIFA is encouraging the adoption of the...

BD's Olympic mission with archery starts today

2024-07-25 00:00:00

Bangladesh will start Paris Olympic Games mission with archery event when archer Md. Sagor Islam will compete in the men's individual ranking round scheduled to be held today (Thursday) at Invalides venue, in Paris, according to a message received on...

Murshida, Nigar steer Tigresses to semis

2024-07-25 00:00:00

Bangladesh moved to the semifinal of the Women's Asia Cup after crushing Malaysia Women's team by 114 runs in their last match of the Group B at Dambulla on Wednesday, reports BSS.Opener Murshida Khatun struck a 59 ball-80 while captain...

BRAC bank's corporate banking division rebranded as corporate and institutional banking

2024-07-25 00:00:00

BRAC Bank's corporate banking division has officially been rebranded as corporate and institutional banking, which reflects a significant shift in its strategic direction, according to a press release. The announcement was made during the division's half-yearly review meeting at BRAC...

NRB Bank comes out of the red in H1

FE REPORT | 2024-07-25 00:00:00

NRB Bank, a fourth generation private commercial bank, gained a profit of Tk 850 million in April-June (Q2) this year as opposed to a loss of Tk 28.5 million in the same quarter of the previous year.The company's foreign exchange...