Tk 5.0 fare per kilo proposed

A proposal of Tk 5.0 per kilometre for a 20-kilometre metro ride from Diabari to Motijheel in Dhaka city awaits approval from the authorities concerned.Sources say an MRT fare-fixing committee proposed the total fare for the 20.1 km mass rapid...

Taka gains against dollar after serial depreciation

A turnaround comes as the Bangladesh taka gained 50 paisa in its value against the US dollar Wednesday after a depreciation dive for four consecutive workdays.The US currency was quoted at Tk 91.50 per unit on the day against Tk...

Taxation recast can ‘cut income inequality’

Income inequality in Bangladesh goes gaping to worst level after the pandemic as government's direct-tax measure proves futile in addressing the disparity, experts say.Despite Bangladesh having amongst the highest levels of corporate and income-tax rates in the region, corporate-tax turnover...

Tax receipts from DSE drop 19pc in May

The government revenue earnings from the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped by 19 per cent month-on-month in May on the back of falling turnover value.The government collected revenue worth Tk 176 million in May which was Tk 218 million in...

Padma Bridge . . . and a resilient nation

We are indeed a resilient nation. The proof of it is the Padma Bridge. There are many of us who recall being laid low by despondency when the World Bank came forth, even before the construction of the bridge went...

PMB load control system not to be ready by Jun 25

The axle load-control system which is supposed to be installed on the approach roads of Padma Bridge would not be functional on the day (June 25) of its opening for traffic, leaving a room for overloaded vehicles to ply through...

Pvt ICDs run high risk handling chemicals

CHATTOGRAM, June 07: None of the 19 private ICDs has the permission or infrastructure necessary for storing and handling chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, sources said, expressing fear that the facilities are highly risky for continuing export-import activities.This frustrating picture was...

BDT further loses value

The local currency has maintained a depreciating mode against the US dollar in the past four consecutive working days following a free float of the greenback.The Bangladesh taka (BDT) lost its value by five paisa in the inter-bank foreign-exchange (forex)...

Consumption squeezes under price pressures

Consumption pattern of middle-to lower-income groups has changed significantly under the squeezing impacts of constant economic challenges that force them to trim basic living costs, analysts say.The disruptive pandemic and back-to-back war in Ukraine and consequent global price rises and...

High prices and low wages: A time for struggle and compromise

The struggle of the poor and low-income group that began with the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020 is now worsened by the unabated rise in the prices of essentials. These people are still grappling with their limited budgets as...

Dollar weighs down Taka on free float

The Bangladesh Taka has depreciated deeper against the US dollar in the last three consecutive working days following free float of the greenback.Market operators said the local currency lost 3.31 per cent in value against the dollar -- rated the...

Govt to make direct contact with Brazil's soybean exporters

The government has taken an initiative to establish direct contact between its relevant agencies and Brazilian exporters of soybean, aimed at securing timely and periodic supply of the essential commodity.The Bangladesh Embassy in Brazil is exploring the possibilities of procuring...

Plight of pensioners & senior citizens in Bangladesh

Life is tough for pensioners and senior citizens in Bangladesh. The woes of pensioners, especially if they do not belong to the privileged classes, know no limits in this country. Against the backdrop of a very tense global economy, affected...

Clean energy option fighting a losing battle

With the Ukraine war raging, the issue of energy security has now topped the agenda, globally. Since, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Russia is the world's largest oil exporter and Europe keeps warm with its (Russia's) gas, what...

External sector: a time of unforeseen volatility and unprecedented pressure

Bangladesh's external sector has never been under so much pressure experiencing such volatility as in the recent past. Trade deficit is anticipated to cross US$ 30.0 billion mark, current account deficit the US$ 18.0 billion mark and the negative overall...

No bid from local refiners due to low price offer

The government has so far failed to procure soybean oil required for selling at a subsidised rate among 10 million families ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) had floated tenders twice last month - one on May 12...

Q1 NPLs up 9.85pc to Tk 1.134tn

The amount of classified loans in Bangladesh's banking system increased further by nearly 10 per cent or Tk 101.67 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2022, as the central bank revoked policy relaxation on loan repayment.The non-performing loans (NPLs)...

Africa ‘highly potential for BD business activities’

Africa as a resource-rich continent can be the most viable place for business and commercial activities of Bangladesh.With its 1.3-billion people, Africa is a magnet for expansion of trade, as Bangladesh Mission in Ethiopia recently cited this in a letter...

Coming out of growth obsession

Bangladesh economy is facing several challenges in the backdrop of global political and economic crises. In the context of high inflationary pressure, deficits in trade and current account, exchange rate volatility, and pressure on foreign exchange reserve, macroeconomic management will...

TDS impedes SMEs' growth

The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that mainly supply accessories and supporting goods to the large manufacturers are struggling to survive allegedly due to high advance taxes like the TDS (Tax Deducted at Source).This type of tax has made them...

We need a win-win water sharing method

Let me tell you a story from my childhood. I come from Sylhet and it has a big 'Mazar Sharif' known as Hazrat Shahjalal's Darga Sharif. It has big pots to cook food for thousands. These pots are huge. When...

Hajj financing by the government

After two years' hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia has reopened the Hajj pilgrimage for the rest of the world with some conditions in the current year. Muslims across the world eagerly wait for the annual pilgrimage, to...

Dealing with forex market manipulators with iron hand

The country's central bank, the Bangladesh Bank (BB), is learnt to have found that certain state-owned as well as privately-run commercial banks have been providing false information about the reserve of US dollar and purchasing remittance dollars at a higher...

ISPs demand inclusive tender

Internet service providers (ISPs) seek a reviewed tender call dividing Bangladesh into several blocks to let all ISPs join the process of connecting broadband to 41,000 primary schools."There must be opportunities for small ISPs to participate in the tender for...

Zero-duty apparel raw materials, trade deals among measures

An apparel-sector body has submitted to the government a crisis-management package proposal including zero-duty raw materials and trade deal with potential markets for boosting knit-garment exports in the crunch time. The knitwear manufacturers and exporters also seek keeping government's different...

Govt may execute plan from next fiscal year

The government is yet to start the procedures to defer implementation of the less- important development projects in order to curb spending from foreign-currency reserves amid its fast depletion, officials said.The wing concerned of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) did...

New line to connect Matarbari port with nat'l rail network

CHATTOGRAM, June 03: The Matarbari deep-sea port will be connected by a train link with the port city and Dhaka as a new railway track will be set up leading to the Chattogram-Gumdum-Cox's Bazar dual gauge double line. Sources said...

The Pioneer of Rural Development

Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) is a pioneer institute in the field of rural development in Bangladesh. The journey of this pioneering institute started 63 years ago on 27 May 1959. BARD is located in a beautiful natural setting...

Only One Earth and Restore our Planet

World Environment Day (WED) is an important occasion to recognise environmental efforts and celebrate the importance of protecting the environment for human existence. Every day, even without knowing it, we are harming our environment in one way or another. Our...

Need for measuring patients’ satisfaction level in Bangladesh hospitals

Patients in Bangladesh in general express displeasure and frustration at the services they receive from many healthcare facilities, particularly those from public sector providers and lesser-known, smaller private facilities. Services are also perceived to be poorer in quality and inadequate...