Tk 4.44b given to refinance 18,658 investors\\\' portfolios

A sum of over Tk 4.44 billion has been disbursed under a bailout package against the portfolios of 18,658 of the investors affected during December 2010-January 2011 stock-market debacle, officials said. According to information found in the securities' regulator and...

Pvt carriers roll up their sleeves as Biman resumes home flights

The Bangladesh Biman's decision to resume flight operation on domestic routes has prepared the ground for stiff competition among the private air companies, which will benefit the passengers, said sector insiders. The national flag carrier is going to re-launch its...

New authority planned to police textile mills

The government has planned to create a new 'sponsoring' authority to oversee the country's textile mills, making it mandatory for them to be registered with it, a senior ministry official said.  This provision has been incorporated into the 'Textile Industry...

Reflections on power tariff increase

While the power distribution companies BPDB and REB recommended rise in the wholesale and retail electricity tariff, deliberations at the public hearing at BERC on the issue indicated otherwise. On the basis of the information and statistics divulged by the...

Europeans prepare to join AIIB, US continues opposition

Henry Kissinger who had surprised the world by successfully carrying out negotiations with the Chinese leaders in total secrecy in 1971 under US President Nixon's direction for normalisation of Beijing-Washington ties, had made a special  mention about the sophistication of...

Action plan on cards to reduce trade deficit with China

As Bangladesh suffers a huge trade imbalance with China, one of its major trading partners, the government has taken a fresh move to put a brake on the widening gap between the two countries. The government of Bangladesh has initiated...

\\\'Trusted trader\\\' status for the compliant

Government's revenue authorities have moved to award 'trusted trader' status to compliant importers and exporters that would earn them smooth sailing for speedy consignment clearance through ports. The customs wing of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has taken the...

PC refuses to give nod to Karnaphuli tunnel project

The Planning Commission has turned down Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA) proposal for approving the Karnaphuli tunnel project on grounds of incomplete groundwork and flaws in cost analysis. Sources said BBA sent the development-project proposal (DPP) to the project-evaluation committee (PEC)...

Home: Where life\\\'s loose ends are tied!

Shifting residence is one of the most arduous tasks in life. It is more so unless it proves to be a shift in life also. A person is always on a constant journey even when s/he stays motionless. An eternal...

Immigration a new civil rights battle

This past March 07, 2015 Congressman John Lewis went to Selma, Alabama with President and Mrs. Obama to observe the 50th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" march which has changed American history forever. On the day thousands gathered on the Edmund...

Move to freeze bank A/Cs of 123 factories, 385 directors

Government's revenue authority has sent a request for freezing the bank accounts of some 123 factories and their 385 directors on charge of abusing duty-free facility on import of raw materials. Officials said the factories facing action from the customs...

30pc pvt varsities invest no money for research purpose: UGC

Around 30 per cent private universities in the country do not invest a single penny for the research purpose, while rest of such higher learning institutions have also very limited spending, putting the quality of education at bay. The University...

Trade potential of Indian ocean rim region untapped

BHUBANSWAR (Orissa), Mar 21: The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene in the Indian island state Mauritius. The Indian readiness for cooperation with its neighbours stems from history. Its shared cultural and civilization trends with this region have...

Pharma makers on global buyers\\\' radar

Global buyers are increasingly sourcing Bangladeshi medicines, encouraged by better quality and competitive price range, industry leaders said. Driven by growing demand, especially from the European Union (EU), has prompted local drug makers to expand capacity, they said. According to...

India ready to share Myanmar gas with Bangladesh in energy swap

BHUBENSWAR (Orissa), Mar 21: An Indian minister expressed Delhi's willingness to share with Bangladesh gas from Myanmar with which the former is planning to build a pipeline for the fuel import. "We are ready to help Bangladesh achieve energy security...

Dhaka may seek to levy transit fees, access to other neighbours

Dhaka is likely to propose to New Delhi the inclusion of a new provision in the bilateral trade agreement to allow access to third countries and levying of transit fees. Officials said the move seeks to expand scope of the...

Credit-deposit ratio in declining trend in Q1

Credits from all the banks fell slightly in ratio with the deposits, as of the third week of February, which indicates a sluggish trend in the country's banking businesses owing to uncertainties. Sources in the banking circles attributed the tipping...

Four SoBs face Tk 101b capital shortfall

Four state-owned banks (SoBs) are facing an immense capital shortage and thus experiencing difficulties in running day-to-day banking affairs and foreign trade properly, officials have said. Until December last the aggregate capital shortage of the banks reached Tk 101 billion...

Govt to ask 19 commercial wings soon to take steps

The government is likely to direct 19 commercial wings of foreign missions to boost the country's export and explore new markets for jute and jute goods, officials said. The Ministry of Textiles and Jute (MoTJ) recently sent a letter to...

Use of solar irrigation systems saving fuel oil cost

The government's green energy policy is helping to increase use of solar irrigation systems, saving cost of fuel oil and giving other benefits to farmers. Dipal Chandra Barua, president of Bangladesh Renewable Solar Energy Association (BSREA), said in the off-grid...

Stocks continue bleeding for 5th week

Stock extended their losing streak for the five straight weeks that ended Thursday as investors' confidence eroded further in the wake of the prolonged political turmoil. Analysts said that the lack of investors' confidence coupled with two and a half...

Correlation between economics and crimes

There lies a close correlation between people's economic conditions and crimes committed by them. The type of crimes and their structural status changes with the economic conditions of such people. Most of the people in Bangladesh like other third world...

Urban poverty demands alternative thinking to development

The share of urban poverty in the developing world has jumped from 17 per cent to 28 per cent in the past 10 years. In eastern Asia, nearly half of all poverty is found in urban locations while in sub-Saharan...

Our struggle is for freedom

The 7th March, 1971 is denoted as a historic day for Bangladesh. On this day a speech was given at the Ramna Race Course Maiden in Dhaka in front of two million people by  Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is known...

Wife for free

In this age of random offers of an extra thing free for purchase of something, no one in the wildest of imagination could come close to the offer made by an Indonesian widow. She had put up an advertisement for...

A study on banking financials: Upgrading regulatory regime

There is a direct relationship between the level of development in a financial system and economic development in general. Banking industry of our country has 2.67 per cent contribution in GDP (gross domestic product). Apart from this direct contribution in...

Of rice varieties

Bangladesh, a country with heavy population pressure on its limited land resources, has made notable progress in achieving food security by cultivating modern varieties (MVs) of rice notwithstanding the continuous depletion of arable land. The achievement must have surprised the...

RMG industry facing daunting challenges

Ready Made Garments (RMG) industry is one of the oldest and largest export industries. It is a springboard for national development and often a starter industry for countries engaged in export-oriented industrialisation because of its low fixed costs and emphasis...

Dealings in call money market drop

The overall transactions in call money market fell on Thursday, as lender banks were diversifying their excess funds in inter-bank Repo and term deposits, bankers said. The overall turnover in the inter-bank call money market came down to Tk 36.16...

Unusual haste in Karnaphuli tunnel project approval raises questions

The authorities concerned have moved to get the Karnaphuli tunnel project approved without completing necessary groundwork, insiders said. Going great guns with it raises doubt over smooth implementation of the project that intends to build a major communications infrastructure, they...