‘Quasi’-stagnant growth trap persists

Bangladesh has been in six per cent growth trap for more than a decade mainly due to low public and private investment. The country needs to considerably increase both private and public investment to come out of this growth trap....

Investment momentum remains elusive

There is no denying the fact that Bangladesh economy is moving forward.  The graduation of the country to the Lower Middle-Income Country (LMIC) category from the Lower-Income Country (LIC) category in the middle of 2015 is a recognition of the...

DSE, CSE last session of 2015 open higher

The last trading session of the outgoing calendar year opened higher on both bourses –Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) on Thursday. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went up by 9.37 points...

Extension of metro rail up to Kamalapur station proposed

Extension of the city's first metro rail has been proposed up to Kamalapur station with the challenge of managing space for high-speed train to take a sharp turn from Motijheel, sources said. General Consultant of the Dhaka Metro Rail Development...

NBR to discuss revenue data mismatch with CGA

The revenue board is going to sit with the office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) to discuss the issue relating to mismatch in tax revenue collection figures. The difference in tax revenue collection figures between the National Board...

The global economy confronts four geopolitical risks

The end of the year is a good time to consider the risks that lie ahead of us. There are of course important economic risks, including the mispricing of assets caused by a decade of ultra-low interest rates, the shifts...

What do successful students have in common?

Do you feel envy of those students who are always getting good grades? They breeze through their studies as if it is not a big deal and get the good grades while you just look at your paper and wonder...

Needed: A uniform system of recruitment, promotion in banking industry

Bangladesh undertook reform of its financial system quite boldly. It allowed private commercial banks in different phases since mid-90s, privatised state-owned banks, converted the Nationalised Commercial Banks (NCBs) to limited companies, strengthened capital market structure by means of adopting updated...

Stocks edge up with low turnover

Stocks witnessed yet another slow session with marginal gain Wednesday as most of the investors remained followed cautious stance ahead of year-end account closing. The market opened with a positive note and the key index of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)...

RAB proposes mobile court drive against VAT evaders

Elite-force RAB has requested the revenue board to 'include the VAT Act of 1991 in the schedule of the Mobile Court Act-2009' to facilitate launching of drive against VAT evaders through mobile-courts, headed by the RAB executive magistrates, according to...

Bitter truth about banking resonates

Some bitter truth about the country's banking sector resonated through the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) auditorium when a noted economist and former director of UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Dr. Mohiuddin Alamgir, delivered the 15th Nurul...

Economy in ‘sluggish’ ambience in 2015

Despite overcoming an initial setback, stemming from political turmoil in the first quarter of the year, country's economic activities navigated through a 'sluggish' ambience in 2015. There were no thrills and spills felt. Inflation was on a downturn trend, giving...

Fighting malnutrition

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is an international organisation launched at the UN in 2002, with a view to fighting malnutrition across the world. It has grown out of some bone-chilling statistics: each day 805 million people -...

CSR brings long-term benefits for the banking sector

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a self-regulatory mechanism whereby a business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards and...

Stocks inch up with bumpy ride

Stocks ended in green zone on Tuesday amid choppy trading, after remaining negative on the previous two sessions, as most of the investors remain cautious ahead of year-end. The market opened with a positive note and witnessed volatility in the...

BB wants waiver of 15pc VAT on commission

The central bank has mooted a proposal to waive the existing 15 per cent value-added tax (VAT) levied on commission that banks get through the sale of prize bond and savings certificates. Officials said the Bangladesh Bank (BB) has placed...

Yet another extension for Dk-Ctg four-lane

Completion of the 193-kilometre Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway is set back again by a year by citing the shortage of stones, sources said.  The extension will be the third one for the project that was taken up for construction in 2006....

Wrist watches consigned to oblivion

Believe it or not, a watch can now be purchased by Tk 70 only (less than one US dollar) thanks to the cheap Chinese raw materials and local entrepreneurs' untiring efforts that enable the limited-income group of people to wear...

The government\'s New Year gift to the people

During this holiday season, a couple of Bangladesh media reports in regard to a recent interfaith marriage with tacky titles such as Shakilar jibone Robir uday meaning singer Shakila Zafar's remarriage to an Indian poet named Robi must not generate...

Thoughts on municipal election

Municipal elections are scheduled to be held on December 30. The election of mayors on party basis has been introduced for the first time. The councillors, as in the past, contest the elections in their individual capacity. This party-wise electoral...

Fighting cybercrimes as the country goes digital

In mid-2008, Israel grew impatient as it still often does over its neighbours. This time it was about the nuclear facility of Natanz in Iran, one that Iran claimed would be used for civilian purposes only. Israel sought help from...

Tk 1.95b project taken to boost fruit production

The government has under taken a project at a cost of Tk1.95 billion to boost the country’s fruits production.  Under the project, both indigenous and foreign species of fruits will be produced across the country round the year. This was...

Stocks inch down for second day

Stocks slipped into the red on Monday for the second running as late sale pressure wiped off early gains. The market opened with a positive note like previous session, but could not sustain the momentum as the session progressed, eventually...

India, Pakistan want BD to lift ban on raw jute export

Both India and Pakistan have been repeatedly requesting Bangladesh to lift fully the ban it has imposed on the export of raw jute. They say the 'obstruction' created thus is hurting production in their jute mills, officials said. The government...

Tax teams on surprise swoop to catch VAT evaders

Taxmen are making surprise visit to service-oriented organisations and shopping malls in an intensified hunt for VAT evaders to achieve government's tall revenue target for the current fiscal year (FY).   Field-level officials of Customs, Excise and Value Added Tax (VAT)...

Merchant bankers for completing whole IPO process within 82 days

Merchant bankers have proposed for completing the whole IPO (initial public offering) process within 82 days of getting regulatory consent to a company willing to go public under book building method.   Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association (BMBA) made the proposal submitted...

Rural households and promise of dairy cooperatives

Dairy farming is bringing much needed income to rural households while empowering women in Bangladesh. Many of these women entrepreneurs are supplying milk to the market through cooperatives such as Milk Vita, BRAC Dairy and Pran Dairy. Their success stories...

Is the cow being milked dry?

Bangladesh has a livestock crisis. This is because the country depends heavily on Indian beef for its protein intake. With the latest Indian crackdown on cattle trade, the problem has become dire as the price of cattle meat spiked over...

UN Syria mediator aims to convene peace talks on January 25

The United Nations said on Saturday it aims to bring together Syria's warring parties on January 25 in Geneva to begin talks to try to end nearly five years of civil war. UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura plans to...

Strengthening city corporations

At a time when the liveability rating of the capital city is at its lowest, poorest and ugliest, waging a war on it demands exceptional quality and courage. The two mayors, albeit elected in skewed elections, have made their intention...