ICB for releasing rest Tk 3b

The Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) urged the government recently to release Tk 3.0 billion from bailout package to help investors who were affected during the stock market debacle in December 2010-January 2011 period, officials said. This is the third...

Protecting children\\\'s rights in the digital age

In an era of rapid globalisation, the digital media has become a powerful way for children and young people to realise their rights --- ranging from accessing information, playing games, to expressing themselves freely and even anonymously. The latest digital...

Impact of malnutrition on children

Of the 19 million or so children under the age five, six million have suffered stunted growth in the country. The figure revealed in a roundtable held in the capital on Monday constitutes no less than 41 per cent of...

FDI: Good policy, low response, inadequate physical infrastructure

Proactive policy is always important to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), especially in developing countries. But a well-crafted policy alone cannot ensure desired level of FDI. Bangladesh is probably such an example. Despite having a good FDI policy, the inflow...

Import cost of urea surges on drastic fall in production

The import cost of urea fertiliser continues to surge over the years following growing dependence on external sources, caused by a drastic fall in domestic production. Officials at the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) said the situation is gradually worsening...

Remittance to cross $15b by fiscal end: BB

The central bank estimates that the country's overall inward remittance will cross US$15 billion-mark by the end of the current fiscal year (FY), 2014-15, as various moves have been taken to increase its flow. "We expect that the flow of...

Trailblazing knit factory readies itself for operation

The story starts two years back in a grim background. Fazlul Haque, a business leader, got into odds over the Rana Plaza disaster. That episode is now about to yield a storybook ending in Bangladesh's highest export-earning sector.          The day...

Making this world a better place to live in as all lives matter

Dhaka is buzzing with millions of people. We have fallen in such a routine where we wake up every morning, rush to work, waste our precious time in traffic congestion, fight against several odds like rain, poor drainage system and...

Let the world fund your idea

Try to remember what you did on the day when woke up in the morning having a new business idea in your mind. Probably you shared with your parents at the breakfast table but surely were scolded. Then you shared...

Bangladesh in Cricket World Cup 2015: An assessment

The Bangladesh Cricket Team performed exceptionally well in the World Cup 2015 but largely compared to its own past performances. Its major achievement was the fact that it stamped its arrival in the group of the "blue bloods" in international...

Sharing the Chinese prosperity

A  Chinese proverb runs like this: "Not only clean air passes through open windows but also flies and mosquitoes." Thus, openness of the economy may have both advantages and disadvantages. China has opened up its economy to turn itself into...

Is race to the bottom inevitable?

For the workers in the current stage of globalisation of production, the danger of a race to the bottom seems real. On the other hand, given the potential benefits of globalised production, one could argue (and indeed hope) that that...

Wealth tax receipts below number of wealthy people

Only over 10,000 well-off people paid wealth tax, worth Tk 2.08 billion, to the exchequer in the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14 although it's a common belief that there has been a boom in the number of the wealthy in the...

Bangladeshis 3rd largest group to avail Malaysia\\\'s M2H scheme

Some 3,005 Bangladeshis have availed the much-hyped 'Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)' facility in last 12 years since the inception of the residency programme in 2002, siphoning off substantial amounts of money. As the total number of beneficiaries reached 27,179...

ICT sector fetches $86.07m in first 8 months of current FY

Local computer service industry has achieved a tremendous export growth in the first eight months of the current financial year (FY) 2014-15 thanks to its international standard and diversified products. The growth of the country's IT and IT-enabled services (ITES)...

Trial run of Dhaka-Guwahati bus service from May 2

Bangladesh and India are set to operate trial bus service on the newfound Dhaka-Sylhet-Shillong-Guwahati route from May 2 with the greater aim of adding a new dimension to regional connectivity. The trial run of bus will continue for a week...

Musings on Pahela Baishakh

This year Baishakh has come not with a whimper but with a bang. The stormy and heavy showery end of Chaitra has grounded many kaccha houses and trees in many places across the country. Electric poles have been uprooted and...

Rethinking banking strategies

The banking industry is under stiff pressure in today's business environment. These pressures are being augmented by tighter macro-economic and regulatory environment, severe competition generated by neo-banks and non-traditional payer pressures, product differentiation and retention and development of talented people....

Changes in the world of work

An important aspect of economic globalisation is the globalisation of the process of production. With the gradual dismantling of trade barriers, and capital flows becoming easier, globalisation of the process of production has also become easier. It is no longer...

Construction work going on amid manifold problems

Some 60 per cent work of the two wings of the 8.25 kilometre-long Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover has been completed amid manifold problems, officials said. Project Director Nazmul Alam said as the construction work is going on along with vehicular movement at...

Karmasangsthan Bank to open 57 more branches

As part of its expansion plan, Karmasangsthan Bank (KB) is set to open 57 new branches across the country, a high official of the bank said. The BK board of directors in a recent meeting has taken the decision to...

Karnaphuli tunnel project cost goes up by Tk 16b

The cost of the Karnaphuli river tunnel project has gone up by Tk 16 billion (1,600 crore) though the construction work is yet to start and it may increase further once the design is prepared, officials have said. The Bridge...

Turmoil hits jute spinners hard

Jute spinners have sought bank interest waiver from the government for two quarters to June of the current calendar year as they have sustained losses as a result of the political turmoil. The Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association said political turmoil...

Apparel sector fears large drop in winter orders

Country's apparel-sector operators have become jittery fearing substantial drop in winter orders from key export destinations. The pared-down production activity during three months of political turbulence has already taken a toll on them. Industry-insiders foresee an oncoming crunch as manufacturers...

Practice of arbitration mechanism a must to woo int\\\'l investors

Practice of arbitration mechanism in Bangladesh mainly to resolve the cross-border business disputes is sine qua non to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that the country is looking for, an international arbitration expert opines. "International investors don't feel comfortable...

Dress code or sticking to tradition

Suited and booted, a man can present any of the most agreeable, intimidating, towering, revered and even ludicrous personalities. Suits, coats and trousers are western garments but as formal dresses they have hardly any equals. The majority of nations, except...

Something beyond the road bends

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, who usually dwells more on road transport issues than ones concerning his own ministry, last Friday unveiled a government plan to straighten about 200 accident-prone bends on roads and highways. The shipping minister, understandably, talks more...

Construction of barrage on Padma brooks no delay

A study was conducted in the Ganges-dependent areas in 2001, which prescribed Talbaria as the choice for the site of the proposed Ganges Barrage. The place lies in close proximity to the point of origin of the river Gorai. Finally...

Admission forgery goes on unabated

Corruption, deception, conspiracy and forgery are being applied zealously by a section of people - both officials and student leaders - in the major educational institutions of the country to make extra money. Two such cases, amongst many others remaining...

Watchdogs to nose out sneaky cross-border money transaction

A new watchdog team of the revenue authority is ready to start operation to check transfer mispricing by the multinational companies (MNCs) on their tax returns as such trick is allegedly used in underhand cross-border transactions. The revenue board recently...