Most missions miss export targets in July-Aug period

Only one-third of the diplomatic missions of the country could help achieve export targets during the July-August period of the current fiscal year, officials said. Most others miserably missed the marks set for them. Out of 53 diplomatic missions, they...

Chevron pumps multi-million dollars into \\\'social\\\' investment

US oil major Chevron is expected to launch an enterprise development programme in Bangladesh today (Wednesday) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). BRAC, one of the largest non-government organisations (NGO) in the world, will implement the 18-month pilot...

Promoting FDI in SAARC countries

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on December 08 of 1985 although its idea was floated earlier on May 02 of 1980 by former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman. The organisation's principal objective is to undertake a...

Pope calls for UN to address \\\'oppressive\\\' lending

Pope Francis promoted a series of specific economic policies on debt, trade and tax to alleviate poverty in his address on Monday to the United Nations General Assembly.  The Pope's UN speech followed his address to a joint session of...

The crux of refugee problem

While global attention is now focused on refugees from trouble-torn Middle Eastern countries, the issue of the Rohingyas from Myanmar has sadly been left to the backyard. They face similar brutalities as the Arabs face in their home countries.  Influx...

The economy and financing the SDGs

The UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that will end in December next has been replaced by another 15-year Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the 70th session of the UN general Assembly in New York. According to information available here, the...

Stocks slip into red on profit booking

Stocks slipped into the red on Tuesday after remaining positive in the five consecutive days as investors booked marginal profit.  The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain amid profit booking.  DSEX, the prime index of the...

Stocks open mixed with choppy trading

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hour of trading on Tuesday amid volatility, the second session after Eid holiday. After first 30 minutes of the day’s trading, DSEX, the prime...

All forex loans come under BB scanner

The central bank has intensified its monitoring the use of foreign-currency loans under a changed stance following allegations of abuse of the facility.     Officials said the Bangladesh Bank (BB) has taken the latest initiative on detection of various irregularities in...

Dhaka to request Delhi to double royalty

Dhaka is going to request New Delhi soon to double the amount it pays annually as maintenance cost of the Indo-Bangla protocol water route to ensure smooth navigability for plying vessels. Officials said the decision about higher royalty was taken...

NTR exemption for CAAB sought

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has requested the Ministry of Finance to exempt the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), a unit under its control, from paying Tk 1.0 billion in non-tax revenue during the current fiscal year...

Agricultural policy shifts

The 'Development Paradox' that Bangladesh is reported to be facing has many dimensions. Happily, one of those dimensions tends to belie the so-called "Asian Enigma' - implying usually high rates of child under-nutrition relative to its income levels as well...

Hajj pilgrims\\\' nightmare

Over 770 pilgrims were killed in a horrific stampede at Mina in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015. The tragedy occurred when Muslims around the world were observing the Islamic festival Eid-ul Azha. It seems that the available media reports...

Stocks edge up amid thin participation

Stocks edged higher Monday, the first trading session after five-day Eid holiday, as investors took position on lucrative stocks amid optimism. However, the participation of investors was thin as many investors are yet to resume routine jobs after Eid vacation....

DSE, CSE open optimistic after Eid vacation

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw upward trend in early hour of trading Monday, the opening day after week-long Eid holiday. However, the presence of the investors is thin on the trading floor as...

India yet to approve SOP for coastal shipping

The debut of much-talked-about Indo-Bangladesh coastal shipping service is facing delays as New Delhi is yet to approve the final standard operating procedure (SOP), officials said. Bangladesh sent the final version of the SOP, a crucial prerequisite for starting voyage...

Design soon for Jamuna rail bridge

The government is set to have a detailed designing of the dedicated Jamuna rail bridge for greater passenger and freight train services within the country and beyond. Officials said Bangladesh Railway authorities have begun the preparation after the project's Japanese...

IPOs see sluggish activity in nine months

The initial public offerings (IPOs) witnessed sluggish activity in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period a year ago, when a record number of IPOs hit the stock market. A total of Tk 5.38 billion has...

Republican presidential hopefuls go for Muslim-bashing

If the two national debates of the Republican Party or GOP (Grand Old Party) candidates have underlined anything thus far, it has established that the Party is short of real issues with which to fight the Democrats in the November...

Assessing economic impact of ICT

Recognising the importance of science and technology in general and of ICT (Information and Communications Technology), in particular, the government of Bangladesh has formulated the National Science and Technology Policy and National ICT Policy, 2009. The ICT Policy has articulated...

Determining price inflation

While people are reeling under the pressure of spiralling commodity prices, statements by three agencies of the government namely, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) give conflicting as well...

Georgia court verdict and food safety in this country

A court in the US state of Georgia in a verdict delivered last week sent the former owner of Peanut Corporation to jail for 28 years for marketing of peanut butter contaminated with salmonella (a genus of rod-shaped bacteria that...

Tax return submission deadline likely to be extended to Nov 30

The revenue board is likely to extend the deadline for submission of tax returns by individuals, to November 30, following requests from a cross-section of people including taxpayers, lawyers and trade leaders. The deadline for tax-return submission is scheduled to...

An iconic book

Agriculture and food systems worldwide are passing through a difficult time. Climate change, environmental degradation, profit hunting motives, urban-bias etc. allegedly bedevil the process of sustainable agricultural development. Unfortunately, the upcoming challenges and the solutions are rarely put in layman's...

The economics of Eid ul-Azha

Eid ul-Azha, celebrated after two months and ten days of Eid ul-Fitr, is known as the Feast of Sacrifice, as animals are sacrificed in commemoration of willingness of  Hazrat Ibrahim  (pbh) to sacrifice his dearest son Ismail as an act...

Inclusive growth and Bangladesh Bank

Bangladesh Bank has the rare distinction of being the only central bank in the world that has pursued inclusive growth as a consistent policy in recent years. It has assumed this role on its own volition without prodding from any...

An ICU patient and a probing quack

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mr. Annisul Huq likened Dhaka to an 'ICU patient' and himself to a doctor sans medical knowledge while discussing Dhaka's unfixable problem of traffic congestion at a function last Sunday. The comparison would...

Expansion of metro rail line planned

The government has planned to expand the 20-kilometre metro rail line which is being set up from Uttara to Motijheel in the city. Officials said as per the plan, rapid transit line-6 (MRT-6) will be extended to Export Processing Zone...

China\\\'s economic slowdown: Media reactions highly exaggerated, says IMF

China's devaluation, followed by knock-out in the stock market in the midst of its economic slowdown, became a global hot topic for free-for-all talk shows and news analyses that have apparently confounded the confusion. The contradictory conclusions drawn by different...

Why gender equality is the most critical of all the global goals

At the end of this month, thousands of representatives from all over the world will gather in New York. They will witness the launch of the most ambitious universal effort since the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in 1948....