Nialco Alloys to go public

Nialco Alloys, a manufacturer of grade bronze and brass ingots, is awaiting the regulatory consent to raise a capital worth Tk 100 million from the SME Board of the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE).The Chittagong-based company will raise the capital issuing...

Covid-19 may rob millions of jobs

The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) fallout has turned alarming across the world. According to the United Nations (UN), the coronavirus spread-out will significantly increase global unemployment and underemployment. This may leave up to 25 million more people out of jobs across...

Reducing social distancing effects on the Bangladesh economy

In the last couple of months, unparalleled to any past events, economic and social impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak have become the main topic of global discussion. The pandemic, originated in Wuhan, China, has spread all over the world in...

Dengue and Covid-19: A deadly combination

With the deadly coronavirus reaching every corner of the country, the threat of another viral disease--- dengue--- is now looming large on the horizon. Four stereotypes of dengue virus---DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4--- responsible for dengue fever are, however, far...

BR still pays salaries in colonial system

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) is facing trouble in disbursing monthly salaries among thousands of employees during the ongoing lockdown due to the British-era cash payment system.Confusion arose as it ran special trains on different routes to send salaries for station...

Three telcos will have to buy addl spectrum

The country's three mobile operators will have to purchase additional spectrum at the previous rate to meet the growing demand for data during the ongoing shutdown, BTRC chairman Md Jahurul Haque said. He said the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission can't...

Clothing makers asked to move imported goods to warehouses

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Chittagong Port is facing a serious problem with a big stockpile of containers which awaits delivery to their owners.Against the backdrop, the ministry of commerce has asked the garment sector to store their imported goods...

Use of anti-malarial drug picks up pace

The trial use of Hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug, is getting momentum in Bangladesh where confirmed cases and fatalities from COVID-19 have been rising steadily.Some seven patients died and 312 new persons contracted the deadly coronavirus on Sunday (in last 24...

DSE directors at loggerheads over new membership

The directors of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) are at loggerheads over a regulatory move taken to issue new TREC (Trading Right Entitlement Certificate) required to conduct trading business by aspirant local and foreign companies.Two incumbent shareholder directors, also ex-presidents, of...

FINTECH - in the context of Bangladesh

By the end of 2020, at least 20 billion devices along with more than 5 billion people and businesses will be integrated through digital technology. Digital Financial Service (DFS) promises extensive development of new potential which should lead to an...

The best and the worst in man

The ultimate test of humanity comes in time of the worst crisis. Now is one of the worst crises ---if not the worst ever --- human race is confronting. With sky-high scientific and technological achievements including advancement in artificial intelligence...

Navigating the pandemic trilemma

The coronavirus crisis is forcing a dramatic reassessment of how government and the economy function. As Matthew M. Kavanagh of Georgetown University argues in The Lancet, the pandemic has revealed a trilemma: it is impossible to have a medically healthy...

COVID-19 and public actions for the urban poor

Dealing with nation-wide disruptions is nothing new to Bangladesh. Political unrest, military coups, and natural disasters in the country have time and again made global news headlines, often with sad imageries. The people of the country and its leadership have...

Power sector issues sustain huge erosion in prices

The prices of fuel & power stocks suffered losses between 5.0 per cent and 46 per cent in past one year as the market outlook was depressed during the year.Of the 19 companies listed in the sector, prices of 17...

Ships' berth stay breaks new record

The berth stay period of ships has hit all-time high in Chittagong port to seven days from two to three days at best, caused by the COVID-19-linked shutdown.Before reaching the jetties, the vessels now need to wait at the outer...

Lockdown worsens Ctg port logjam

Average submission of bills of entry and bill of export slid by 85 to 90 per cent between March 26 and April 11, resulting in huge congestion at the Chittagong port, customs officials said.The officials blamed the importers for not...

BSCIC recommends providing loan for genuine entrepreneurs

The BSCIC authority has recommended that the government provide working capital for bona fide entrepreneurs to offset their possible financial losses caused by coronavirus pandemic, an official said. The Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) sent its 16-point recommendation...

Covid-19 and virtual courts: Are we ready?

The right to protection of law and access to justice are fundamental rights, which are enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has, in effect, suspended the execution of these fundamental rights. The direct effect of the...

UN Faces financial & liquidity crisis as global pandemic rages

The current financial crisis, triggered as a result of withholding or delaying payment of assessed contributions by Member States, is nothing new to the United Nations.We have travelled that road quite a few times in recent decades. No reason to...

Bangladesh may fare better than many others

The world is passing through an unprecedented crisis on account ofcoronavirus. It has already cost more than one hundred thousand lives. Whereas the first 50,000 deaths occurred in 80 days or so, the next 50,000 succumbed to it within 8-10...

Another dengue outbreak may hit country

If the authorities concerned do not take preventive measures beforehand, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue might hit the country at the time of another pandemic- COVID-19, warned a noted entomologist.The already pandemic-hit health system will not be able to deal with...

Govt asks importers to expedite import of essential items

The government has stepped up measurers for enhancing imports of key essential commodities to keep their supply and prices stable in the market during Ramadan which will start in late April, officials said.To this end, it has recently askedthe country's...

Govt likely to waive interest on loans, provide incentive for fisheries sector

The government has decided to waive interest on bank loans of the fish farms and shrimp exporters to help keep the sector alive amid risks of possible financial losses due to the ongoing shutdown across the country and elsewhere in...

DSE core index rides on large-cap companies

Large cap companies having notable impact on key index played a pivotal role behind the rise of broad index which crossed 4000-point mark in five sessions conducted before the closure of DSE.The share prices of large cap companies including Grameenphone...

Health system responsiveness to contain Covid-19

Health systems in both developed and developing countries are now struggling to respond to the challenges posed by Covid-19. As of April1 15, 210 countries and territories have been affected by the pandemic with more than 20,84,042 cases and 134,669...

Rising up to harvesting challenge

The allocation of Tk 50 billion for farmers euphemistically called a stimulus package could not come at a more proper time. Although there is no reason for price hike of rice, the market had started to be jittery long before...

Double deferred payment period

The government has asked the central bank to double the existing deferred payment period for commercial import to help ensure supply chain of commodities during this COVID-19 pandemic situation.To this effect, officials said, commerce ministry has written to the Bangladesh...

Businesses submit fewer VAT returns

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) received fewer VAT returns this month from the businesses amid lockdown, now in place due to the COVID-19 outbreak.As VAT offices remained open only four days, from April 12 to 15, the Board received...

Existing infrastructure not supportive to resume stock trading

Existing infrastructures and limited banking service do not support the continuation of trading in the capital market amid ongoing lockdown enforced by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19.The officials of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) said...

First metro rail arrival from Japan uncertain

The arrival of the first ready metro rail from Japan remains uncertain for a shipment delay after completion of a factory trial run due to the coronavirus pandemic.Sources said the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) earlier set a target...