Businesses discuss key mkt issues of Ramadan

The country's businesses have urged the government to strengthen market monitoring during the holy month of Ramadan with a view to keeping the prices of essentials stable and protecting the consumers' interests. They also suggested the government increase the number...

BB suggests floating bonds, instead of bank loans

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has identified three reasons for finding alternative sources of long-term financing instead of the banking system."Arranging long-term fund through floating corporate bonds, instead of bank loans, will help stabilise stock markets alongside reducing the liquidity management...

Central bank’s combat plan takes shape by August

Bangladesh Bank (BB) expects to unveil a three-year national strategy by August next aiming to take necessary actions against financial crimes, officials said. A draft roadmap for formulating 'national strategy for preventing money laundering and combating financing of terrorism 2018-2020'...

Linking climate change to human rights

Chief Seattle said, "All things share the same breath- the beast, the tree, the man. The air shares its spirit with all the life it supports." More than one hundred years ago, Chief Seattle tried to use this to champion...

Doing it with Beautiful Mind

The Beautiful Mind, a special centre for autistic and mentally-challenged children, celebrated both Bangla New Year 1425 and World Autism Awareness Day befittingly. The celebration was enjoyable, educative and effective producing lasting effects. The centre got going thanks to voluntary...

Lightning shaft that descends from above to kill

Lightning or thunderbolt has become the latest agent of death for people in this country. It is such a fearsome arsenal sent from the sky above, against which unsuspecting human beings in the open have no defence. These carriers of...

Accidents on roads, highways

Lives are being lost one after another in road accidents. In most cases, drivers are responsible for accidents. If the drivers are trained and licensed, so many accidents would not have occurred. Upto April 15 this year, the number of...

Is growth a synonym for development?

Bangladesh has been consistently achieving a growth rate of over 6.0 per cent since 2008-09. There is nothing exceptional about it, but it is remarkable given that most nations of the developed world were under recession during the period. Balance...

How to overcome state fragility

A recent report published by the UK-based LSE-Oxford Commission on State Fragility, Growth and Development headed by former British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for paying greater attention to delivering basic security and jobs in states affected by conflicts...

How Iran will respond to new sanctions

Since December 2017, Iran's currency, the rial, has lost one-third of its value. And on April 10, the exchange rate's rapid depreciation prompted the government to halt domestic foreign-exchange transactions and outlaw foreign-currency holdings of more than €10,000 ($12,000).This government's...

Long wait for national minimum wage

Currently, there is no national minimum wage in the country. A strong reservation from the employers deters such a system to be in place. And it is very unlikely that the government would move in that direction in near future.It...

OIC foreign ministers' two-day meet: Focus on regional common market

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations spread over four continents. The organisation is the collective voice of the Muslim world which endeavours to safeguard and protect the interests of the...

Net foreign fund at DSE sinks in April

The net foreign investment in the Dhaka bourse turned negative in April, after a month's break, as the foreign fund managers followed a 'go-slow' strategy.The overseas investors collected shares worth Tk 5.03 billion but sold shares worth Tk 5.28 billion...

TCB to sell five essentials from Sunday

Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) decided on Thursday to start selling five essential commodities from Sunday to keep their market prices stable during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. "We've decided to sell the essential commodities from May 6 across...

BB seeks Tk 6.0b to finance farm projects under EEF

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has sought an allocation of Tk 6.0 billion for its Equity and Entrepreneurship Fund (EEF) in the fiscal year of 2019 to finance agro-based projects, officials said.Presently, the EEF has an amount of Tk 3.91 billion...

ADB to continue support for BD, says its chief

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao has said the Bank will continue its support for Bangladesh for its future economic development. Also lauding Bangladesh's ongoing economic growth, the ADB head said the country's success story could be 'good example'...

BSEC approves Chinese Consortium’s bid, finally

The securities regulator has finally approved the proposal made by a Chinese consortium for being the strategic partner of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).The approval came Thursday at a meeting held at the office of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission...

Ensuring accountability in education

Education is a shared responsibility; and accountability is obviously a major concern when it comes to ensuring an inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. Despite enormous progress in education, there are still 264 million children and youths who are...

BRTA's mobile courts and then what?

It is time for the BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority) and others concerned to show some actions. A few road accidents that left some people dead or maimed in Dhaka and some other places across the country have, lately, triggered...

More effective role expected from UNSC

Myanmar under the rule of military generals was wrapped in an iron curtain but it did not earn the infamy of a rogue state then. With Aung San Suu Kyi becoming the de facto head of that country's government, it...

Making academia matter again

Academic freedom is a precious commodity, critical to ensure that discovery of the truth is not encumbered by political or ideological forces. But this does not mean that intellectuals should hide in academic bunkers that, by protecting us from criticism...

ADB, UK launch fund for regional connectivity

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Kingdom (UK) have launched a new fund to help Bangladesh and other ADB members address the 'frontier challenges' the country faces in improving regional integration.The UK through its Department for International Development...

Businesses falsify e-BINs for tax evasion

Field-level VAT offices have discovered false and incomplete information provided to the database of electronic Business Identification Number (e-BIN), thus creating scope for tax evasion.The VAT officials said the immediate action should be taken to clean up the false and...

ADB board meeting begins today

Greater integration of people and economies for facilitating inclusive growth will be, among others, in focus during the 51st meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors that kicks off in Manila today (Thursday).Over 4,000 participants from across...

MNCs continue to pay hefty dividends

Listed multinational companies (MNCs) have declared substantial amount of cash dividends for the year ended on December 31, 2017, maintaining their earnings growth.Of the 11 MNCs, which account for approximately 28 per cent of Dhaka bourse's market capitlisation, maintained steady...

Introducing autonomous shuttle for a moving Dhaka

The pain of travelling in Dhaka is nothing new for anyone. Apart from regular traffic congestion, there is a constant worry about safety and security for commuters. The loss of arm due to road rage and subsequent death of the...

PM Hasina's pitch for women's empowerment

The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Sydney (26-28 April) at the invitation of the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the organisers of the Global Summit of Women (GSW) to receive the prestigious 2018 Global Women's Leadership Award for her...

Will Bangladeshi phone users integrate well into IoT?

Since the first public floatation of World Wide Web (WWW) in August 1991, thanks to Tim Berners-Lee - the inventor, the world has seen many innovative solutions to issues in our daily lives through internet-based services. After the inception of...

Is the country heading towards an electricity grid, based on imported energy?

Electricity supply has significantly increased in the country over the last 6-7 years, but there is no scope for complacency. Though economic growth continues at an appreciable rate of around 7.0 per cent, many people are yet to come under...

DGHS seeks addl allocation for free treatment of Rohingyas

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has sought additional allocation from the government for providing treatment free of cost to the Rohingya people who entered Bangladesh fleeing persecution in Myanmar, officials said.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW)...