Govt cuts target of borrowing from banks

The government has slashed its bank borrowing target by 28 per cent, or Tk 385 billion, for this fiscal year, due to lower expenditures and slower implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP).Under the revised target, the government will borrow...

Faruque Ahmed made MD of DMTCL

Faruque Ahmed, a Bangladeshi expatriate having experiences to work on different metro rail projects worldwide, has been selected as the managing director of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).Sources said a six-member committee, headed by Bangladesh University of Engineering...

Time to decentralise and unify Dhaka's governance

Dhaka as a city is imploding. Overpopulation, civic amenities overburdened and only a limited mass transit system, traffic congestion, unregulated high-rises defying building codes, festering slums and finally insecurity have made this capital city a living hell. This cannot go...

Abraham Lincoln's enduring global appeal

Abraham Lincoln remains a consequential figure in history. The anniversary of his birth having gone —- he was born on 12 February 1809 —- it is for those interested in the annals of great men and women inhabiting particular periods...

Endless delay as Chinese contractors halt work

The development of the dedicated bus corridor on Gazipur-Airport route appears to be never-ending, as the project has already witnessed extensions for the seventh time.Just as the project was nearing completion, with only 3 per cent left, two Chinese contractors...

Supply chain of nine key essential items under scrutiny

The government has decided to strictly examine every stage of the supply chain of nine key commodities so that consumers can buy the essential items at fair prices from the kitchen market, sources said.The items are rice, edible oil, onion,...

Govt strategy coming for export competitiveness of 4 major sectors

Government authorities have got down to devising a strategy for keeping competitiveness of four major export sectors beyond apparel after 2026 when export subsidy will go following Bangladesh's graduation from world's poor-country club.The four sectors -- leather and leather goods,...

Citibank to pioneer innovative solutions in Bangladesh: Mayank Gupta

Citibank, N.A. in Bangladesh is committed to play a pioneering role in introducing world-class innovative products and services for facilitating business activities in Bangladesh, a senior official of the global bank has said."Bangladesh has made rapid strides over the last...

Money to be invested in only 'A' stocks by credit-worthy investors

Taskforce meant to suggest reforms to the capital market recommended that investors having less than Tk 1 million in equity investment do not get margin loans and only 'A' category companies be considered as marginable stocks. The changes to the...

Road safety continues to elude

If morning shows the day and past experience is any guide, the apprehension that road accidents will continue to claim more lives in the coming days cannot be ruled out. Neither the latest statistics about loss of lives and injuries...

Dhaka-Ctg pipeline may become operative in April

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 10: The Dhaka-Chattogram fuel oil transportation pipeline is likely to become operational in April as the project is completed. The 250km pipeline is likely to be commissioned next month, while Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) plans to commence transporting...

India's media misinformation nexus & Bangladesh

The modern media have often been referred to as a double-edged sword-a force for empowerment and information but at the same time a tool for manipulation and misinformation. Within this scenario, in South Asia, India’s media industry is outstanding not...

Why Musk backs President Trump

The richest man in the world, Mr. Elon Musk, now is also the most powerful individual in America after President Donald Trump. He heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force the president created to downsize the US...

IFRS S1 and S2: preparedness in Bangladesh

Adopting International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2 marks a pivotal moment for Bangladesh as it aims to enhance sustainability reporting among its corporations. The International Sustainability Standards Board's (ISSB) release of these standards in June 2023 signifies the...

Tightfisted monetary management likely again

Tightfisted monetary management may continue for another six months as the central bank is set to unveil its next monetary policy today (Monday) with focus on taming inflation to tolerable levels, officials said.All policy rates are likely to remain unchanged...

Drug makers secure growth in H1 on low finance costs, higher sales

Leading drug manufacturers maintained revenue and profit growth year-on-year in the first half of FY25, supported by higher sales amid stability in the forex market.However, efficient management, strong financial positions, and lower finance expenses helped Square Pharmaceuticals and Beximco Pharmaceuticals,...

Demolition of historic 32 Dhanmondi house

The demolition campaign against Sheikh Mujib's residence on Road 32, Dhanmondi, Hasina's Suda Sadan and other Awami League leaders' homes is a completely new phenomenon in this country's history. Immediately after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, the 32, Dhanmondi...

Ending chronic crisis in edible oil market

The very essential commodity in the kitchen, cooking oil, which always becomes more essential during the holy month of Ramadan, has recently gone out of market for no good reason. This is happening at a time when the prices of...

More than 85pc fail to earn certification

A total of 1,458 digital businesses have been registered under Digital Business Identification (DBID) in the last three years since its inception in 2021, according to DBID statistics. On the other hand, more than 85 per cent of e-commerce companies...

Preliminary health budget set at Tk 434b for next fiscal

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has set a preliminary budget allocation of Tk 434.83 billion for the next fiscal year (2025-26), marking a Tk 20.75 billion increase from the current fiscal year's allocation of Tk 414.08 billion. This...

Stable policies to lure foreign investors to present market

The current market valuation of local listed companies is attractive and policies must be stable to attract foreign investors, said a fund manager of Hong Kong-based Asia Frontier Capital (AFC).In a recent interview with The FE, Ruchir Desai said foreign...

Dried fish processing begins with great gusto

COX'S BAZAR, Feb 08: A festive-like environment is prevailing almost everywhere as the traditional dried fish processing season has begun along the Cox's Bazar coastline marking enthusiasm and busyness of the workers involved in the burgeoning industry. Industry insiders said...

Freeing Chatttogran of water-logging

The port city of Chattogram has been becoming increasingly uninhabitable because of frequent water-logging. Every time there is a moderate to heavy downpour, the city goes under knee-to-waist-deep water, disrupting the city life, and causing immense suffering to the commuters....

Devising strategy for IP in post-LDC era

As Bangladesh is set to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category by the end of 2026, many have already raised concerns about the post-graduation shocks. The issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) is one of the key concerns...

Donald Trump: his agenda this time around

No one expected Donald Trump to be better now than he was during his first term in White House. But few guessed that he would be far worse during his second term than he was before. After all, people learn...

Disarray in private investment

Private investment is experiencing major disarray during the tenure of interim government which was started in the previous regime. Bangladesh did not manage to raise its investment levels to match those of its peer developing countries during previous regime. Over...

Ordinance soon for mandatory electronic government purchases

An ordinance remaking the porous public-procurement law comes soon for mandatory electronic government purchases in all relevant cases as the changed regime finds loopholes for abuse, sources say. They say the current interim government has finalised the draft of the...

Regulator seeks power to discipline errant insurance companies

Insurance regulator now wants requisite power to adequately punish errant insurers for bringing them under control in the wake of widespread allegations of noncompliance, especially non-settlement of huge claims of policyholders. To this end, the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority...

CAAB struggles to recover Tk 11.93b dues from three defunct airlines

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) faces uncertainties over realising Tk 11.93 billion that three defunct airlines owe it. The airlines are Regent Airways, United Airways and GMG Airlines. CAAB has taken several initiatives, including filing money suits, to...

Ekushey Padak for footballers of nat’l women's team: What next?

The announcement could not come at a better time for the national women's team, the reigning champions of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), which defended last year its title it won in 2022. Both the national women's squad and...