Beximco urges BB to stagger another large loan repayment

Now Sonali Bank Limited, the largest of state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs), has passed on a proposal of Beximco Group to the central bank for restructuring another chunk of large loan worth Tk 10.75 billion. Beximco, one of the top business...

1996 share market scam cases transferred to Special Tribunal

The long pending 1996 share market scam cases are now ready at the recently formed capital market Special Tribunal for their speedy disposal, sources said. The much-talked about 15 criminal cases were filed against dozens of persons of 15 listed...

Move to offload more SoEs\\\' shares hits snag

The government's move to offload shares of more state-owned enterprises (SoEs) has hardly made any progress, mainly due to procedural complexities and dillydallying of the authorities concerned despite repeated reminders from the top levels, officials said. "We are reminding the...

Import doubles as demand for smartphones soars

The demand for smartphones has soared in the local market propelled by low-cost handsets and the enhanced 3G network coverage, industry people said. More than 8.0 million  smartphones  were shipped into Bangladesh in the first eleven months of the outgoing...

Rise of the tigers

Cricket is the only thing that can bring the whole population together in Bangladesh. No one gets more cheers from the crowd than a Bangladeshi bowler bowling the first ball. This cricket crazy nation was gifted with 10 consecutive home...

VAT on education

The government has proposed to impose 10 per cent VAT on education in private universities and engineering and medical colleges. If, for example, a student pays a total of Tk.700,000 to obtain a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from...

Whither food security?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organi-sation (FAO), "Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets the dietary needs and food preferences for an active and...

What would have Rosa Parks said?

When I saw the picture of the swearing-in of Loretta Lynch as the Attorney General of the United States of America on the front page of a few American dailies on June 15, Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks came to...

Success breeds success: Mustafiz again on target

Success breeds success is an old saying. This is true in the case of present Bangladesh one-day international cricket team, especially teen-age bowler Mustafizur Rahman. When successes start coming on a consistent basis it becomes a winning habit, proved Mustafiz,...

Stocks extend losing streak for 5th day

Stocks extended losing streak for the fifth straight sessions today (Wednesday) as investors remained cautious. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain as the session progressed. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE),...

Stocks up at opening amid volatility

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hour of trading on Wednesday amid volatility, the fourth session of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by 5.5.25...

Mashrafe\\\'s men eye Banglawash today Dhoni & Co to gun for a solace

Mashrafe bin Mortaza’s men will go to Wednesday's match eyeing a whitewash as Bagladesh meet India in the third and last one-day international (ODI) with an advantage of historic 2-0 series victory. On the other hand, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men...

BPC feels the heat

The permission granted to the private rental power plants to import furnace oil duty-free has turned out to be yet another classic case of rash decision taken by the government. The government, in the face of mounting pressure from the...

Administrators may run troubled MFIs

The government is bringing amendment to the existing rules to make a provision for appointing administrator to salvage any micro-finance institutions (MFIs) in trouble, officials said.   In the meantime, they said, the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) has finalised the rules...

Beximco, Thermax large loan restructuring prayers reach BB

The state-owned Janata Bank has sent to the central bank the applications of two business houses -- Beximco and Thermax -- for restructuring their large loans worth Tk.25.16 billion, officials said. The Beximco Group, one of the top business conglomerates...

Delay in enacting labour rules in BD annoys EU

Repeated 'failure' in enacting enforcement rules on Bangladesh Labour Law and government-BGMEA joint repugnance for the activities of Accord seem to have strained the country's relations with the European Union. Official sources said the displeasure of the EU was hinted...

Risk is where the business is

In his book Money: Master the Game, Tony Robbins nicely described the trend of happenings: "The Great Depression, the 1973 Oil Crisis, British Pound-sterling Crisis of 1976, Black Monday in 1987, Dotcom Bubble of 2000, Housing Bust in 2008, the...

Exploiting and exploring marine resources of the Bay

Blue Economy is a relatively new concept in Bangladesh but a widely used one in global economic discourses. Experts opine that Bangladesh can elevate itself to the status of a middle income country (MIC) by appropriately utilising the potential of...

Capital flight: Anti-money laundering regulations need to be strongly enforced

Capital flight through money laundering and other means in Bangladesh has been in the news for quite sometime. The Bangladesh Bank has issued circulars to banks from time to time to stop this rot that undermines the economy. The ministry...

DSEX dips below 4,500-mark

Stocks edged marginally down for the fourth straight sessions on Tuesday as investors remained cautious amid reduced trading during Ramadan. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain as the session progressed. DSEX, the prime index of...

DSE, CSE up at opening

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw upward trend in early hour of trading on Tuesday, the third session of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by 14.13 points or 0.31...

Tunnel deal set for signing with China on June 29

The government is set to sign deal on June 29 with China to construct country's maiden tunnel across Karnaphuli River, after a lot of improvisations that led to cost overrun.      According to latest calculations, official sources said, the cost inflated...

Mr Muhith\\\'s budget: Spending out of the rut

The country's Minister of Finance (MF), Mr. A M A Muhith, placed the fiscal year (FY) 2015-16 budget proposal before the Parliament on June 04, 2015. This was the seventh time he repeated the ritual without any interruption. No other...

Poultry farmers raise price as Indian cattle supply short

Poultry farmers have hiked chicken prices taking advantage of supply shortage of Indian cattle in the country after restriction on informal export, known as "corridoring". Farmers now sell Tk 155-60 per kilogram for one of the popular varieties of animal...

Rural poverty: The opportunity to work for sustenance

Poverty is a condition in which a person or community is deprived of, or lacks the essentials for a minimum standard of well-being and living. Since poverty is understood in many senses, its essentials may be lack of material resources...

High lending rate makes investment stumble

Investment in private and public sectors is now a buzzword everywhere in the world. It helps create employment opportunities, increase productivity of firms and undoubtedly help achieve sustainable economic growth of a country. Every businessman needs capital from incorporation to...

Saving Bangla cinema

Two or three decades ago, cinema halls used to be a key venue of recreation in our country. There was a time when people went to cinema halls for having a good time with their family members. The scene, however,...

A choice between learning and earning

Learning has always been the light in the long tunnel of socio-economic emancipation of a nation. History of Japan, Korea and some other countries is indicative of the way education, especially rising literacy rate, could contribute to growth and development....

How to get a full picture of trade balance

International trade balance in Bangladesh has always remained in negative territory despite consistent growth in exports of ready made garments and restriction in imports of unproductive items. From a policy-perspective, as long as the deficit remains within a tolerable limit...

Stocks edge down amid choppy trading

Stocks inched down for the third running sessions on Monday with turnover remaining below Tk 4.0 billion level as investors followed cautious stance. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain. DSEX, the prime index of the...