BB raises paid-up capital limit for digital bank

Bangladesh Bank increased the paid-up capital requirement to establish a digital bank in the country on Sunday. According to the latest order by the central bank, at least Tk 3.0 billion in paid-up capital, which is 140 per cent higher...

HC upholds freezing of 191 bank accounts of Summit boss, family members

The High Court upheld an order freezing 191 bank accounts held by Summit Group Chairman Aziz Khan, his family members, and associates on Sunday, rejecting a writ petition they had filed.The High Court upheld the lower court's order freezing bank...

Five reform projects not taken up for execution in 2 months

The Planning Division will sit with the relevant state agencies today (Monday) to brainstorm as to why implementation of five projects aiming to reform key government agencies could not be begun even nearly two months after getting approval. The projects...

Wartime issues settled twice earlier, says Pak FM

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the unresolved issues between Bangladesh and Pakistan surrounding the 1971 war were already settled twice.Speaking to journalists Sunday at a hotel in Dhaka after a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh interim...

BD, Pak agree to move forward reactivating frozen ties

Bangladesh and Pakistan agree to move forward strengthening previously strained bilateral relations as the two countries Sunday signed six instruments of cooperation following talks in Dhaka. At the same time, the two sides have also agreed to continue discussions on...

Bangladesh emerging as Chinese firms' investment destination

Bangladesh seems rapidly emerging as an investment hub for Chinese manufacturers seeking to diversify production bases to tide over high tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese goods.Such change of fortune is in sight as a number of companies...

GADGETS & SERVICES _2025-08-25

Gartner recognizes Huawei's SD-WAN solutionfor 5 consecutive yearsHuawei has been recognised for the fifth consecutive time with the Customers' Choice distinction by Gartner for its Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) Solution. On the Gartner® Peer Insights™ platform, Huawei SD-WAN earned...

The silent revolution powering the future of your phone

Forget battery anxiety. A new wave of innovation promises devices that last for days, charge in minutes, and are safer than ever before.For all the wonders of our modern smartphones-the dazzling foldable screens, AI-powered cameras, and ultra-fast 5G-the battery remains...

Fibre Optic Bank to power high-speed future

Bangladesh gears up for one of its most ambitious digital projects yet, which is meant for making things unthinkably faster. It is to create a national digital platform called Fibre Optic Bank. The innovation plan is simple but radical-pool thousands...

Financial Inclusion: driving inclusive growth

Bangladesh’s journey toward financial inclusion has become a hallmark of development-driven central banking in South Asia. The first part of the article (published on August 23) outlines the progress: developing the inclusive regulatory frameworks, promoting digital financial innovations, and aligning...

When politics threatens merit

Bangladesh is on the brink of a technological revolution. From infrastructure to energy and digital innovation, engineers will play a decisive role in shaping this future. Yet, a troubling divide threatens the integrity of the profession - the politicisation of...

Generation Alpha: Highly sensitive

Generation Alpha, born roughly between 2012 and 2025, represents today's youngest children. Though aged 10-13, many display behaviors that feel inconsistent with their age - alternating between confidence and deep insecurity, often labelled as "overly sensitive."Several factors contribute to this...

Decentralisation and standardisation of school education

When all roads lead to one destination, the consequent rush is unavoidable. In Dhaka, usually the commercial or administrative hubs are located at a stone's throw distance. Then the stadiums too are destinations of sport-enthusiastic fans, particularly on mega sports...

Food price, inflation defy reason

Inflation rate in Bangladesh, which was 8.55 per cent in July, marked a 0.07 percentage point increase from that of June. However, the government in its budget for FY2025-26 expressed the hope that the inflation rate could be brought down...

Urgency of listing SOEs on stock market

Listing profitable state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and multinational companies (MNCs) on the stock market can bring multifarious benefits provided that the job is done in a substantive and meaningful way. First of all, it can remedy the lack of market depth,...

Regarding the Trump-Putin Alaska meeting

Alaska, which is located northwest of the US mainland, is the closest point where Russia and the US are neighbours. Originally inhabited by indigenous Americans, the region was first colonised by the old Russian empire in the 18th century. Due...

BPC pipeline pledges reliable & efficient fuel supply

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) finally started its commercial operation for transporting fuel oil (diesel) from Chattogram (Padma Oil Company's dispatch terminal at Guptakhal, Patenga) to Dhaka (Godnail, Narayanganj) with its 249.42 km long pipeline. Energy Adviser Mohammad Fauzul Kabir Khan...

Pak FM meets leaders of BNP, Jamaat, NCP

Visiting Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met separately with leaders of BNP, Jamaat e Islami and NCP on the first day of his Dhaka trip.Mr Dar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon by a special flight...

Volatile prices stifle gold demand in top Asian hubs

Physical gold demand in key Asian hubs remained subdued this week as price volatility kept buyers at bay, while jewellers in India resumed purchases ahead of a key festival season, reports Reuters.Gold prices in India were trading around 99,300 rupees...

BRDB workshop on innovative microfinance for rural development

BRDB workshop on innovative microfinance for rural developmentA day-long workshop on 'The role of Innovative Microfinance in Rural Development: Youth Power and Rural Entrepreneurship Development' organised by the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) was held at BRDB's Conference Room in...

Phoenix Finance & Investments holds 30th AGM

Phoenix Finance & Investments holds 30th AGMThe 30th annual general meeting (AGM) of Phoenix Finance & Investments Limited was held in a hybrid mode, with physical presence at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in the city on Thursday. Mohammed Mohsin,...

China tightens grip over rare earth supply quotas

BEIJING, Aug 23 (Reuters): China, the world's dominant rare earth supplier, issued on Friday measures to regulate the mining, smelting and separation of the critical minerals key to energy transition, further tightening its grip over supply.Beijing already regulates and manages...

Import of green chili from India increases supply, reduces price

DINAJPUR, Aug 23 (BSS): The import of green chili from India via Hili Land port is going on in full swing, increasing the supply and reducing the price in the last few days.According to ASM Akram Hossain Samrat, Assistant Commissioner...

A quick review of FY25 import scenario

After a sharp decline in the two consecutive years, the import of goods in the country registered a modest growth last fiscal year (FY25). Though to all appearances it looks positive, a deeper look into the overall import trend would...

Dengue: 4 more die as hospitalisations cross 28,000

Four more people have died from dengue, all of whom are children and youths, over the past 24 hours, raising the total fatalities this year to 114, while hospital admissions exceeded 28,000 this year, reports bdnews24.com.All four of the dead...

Stakeholders' dialogue on Rohingya crisis begins tomorrow in Cox's Bazar

DHAKA, Aug 23 (BSS): A three-day "Stakeholders' Dialogue" on the Rohingya crisis is set to begin tomorrow in Cox's Bazar, aiming to generate actionable recommendations ahead of the September 30 High-Level Conference on the Rohingya situation in New York, to...

Mongla Port introduces LCL cargo handling

KHULNA, Aug 23 (BSS): Mongla Port authority has introduced the long-awaited Less-than-Container Load (LCL) cargo handling system, opening new opportunities for both small and large-scale importers and exporters.With this facility, traders can now ship smaller consignments using shared containers, eliminating...

Two-thirds of fashion supply chain risks are social: Report

Two-thirds of global fashion supply chain risk incidents over the last five years are linked to social issues, according to a new report by Zurich-based ESG data science company RepRisk.The report, titled "Anatomy of Supply Chain Risks", highlights human rights...

Banglalink launches int'l roaming packs

FE REPORTBanglalink has introduced international roaming packs that can be purchased in Bangladeshi taka, removing the need for international payment methods.The new service allows customers to buy roaming packages using their mobile balance while travelling abroad. It replaces the earlier...

Govt to procure potatoes to support farmers: Adviser

Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said the government will procure potatoes this year to support farmers as they are not getting fair prices due to higher production, reports UNB."Although vegetable prices are rising, potato...