Relocation of tanneries to Savar begins in April

Tanneries would start to be relocated from the city's Hazaribagh to Savar Tannery Estate in April this year. In a meeting with the Industries Ministry on Monday, the tanners made the promise to the government to start relocation in April,...

Key issues in PPP arrangements

Financing BOT/BOO (Build, Operate and Transfer/Build, Own and Operate)   inevitably involves highly commercial and financial structures. There are many reasons for this. Partly, this is attributable to the many participants involved. Partly, also this complexity stems from the wide range...

The case against a Chinese financial crisis

A severe slowdown in China is viewed as among the greatest risks facing the world economy this year, and dismal news on Chinese manufacturing output on February 20 exacerbated these fears. But the really important news from Beijing pointed in...

Failure of Syrian peace talks intensifies the civil war

The failure of the second international peace talks in Geneva has caused frustration and anger among all quarters concerned about the Syrian conflict and consequently, the long-running war seems to be getting further intensified. While various interpretations are given about...

Education quality, skills and labour market outcomes

The links between a country's education system and its economic performance are mediated through labour market outcomes, such as reflected in the supply-demand match for skills, productivity gains and earnings premiums related to additional years of schooling, and the overall...

HSBC, ICC launch Trade Knowledge Centre

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Bangladesh and International Chamber of Commerce- Bangladesh: the world business organisation, have jointly launched a trade knowledge and network building platform titled “ICC Knowledge Centre”. The launching was complemented by a MOU...

Stocks close higher for second day

Stocks edged higher for the second running session Tuesday with turnover improved further as investors took position amid optimism. The market opened with a positive note and the key index of the prime bourse gained 32 points within first 30...

DSE, CSE open positive

The prices of most stocks on both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – saw positive trend in early hours of trading Tuesday, maintaining the previous session’s uptrend. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE...

Illegally imported infusion sets pose hazards to public health

A large quantity of illegally imported infusion sets has entered the local market posing a serious threat to public health. A section of importers have brought the infusion sets from China without approval of the authorities concerned, sources said. Nearly...

Shippers, airlines allowed to open FC accounts

The central bank has allowed shipping lines, airlines and multimodal transport operators to open and maintain foreign currency (FC) accounts with the banks to facilitate foreign trade, officials said. "We've relaxed our foreign exchange regulations to facilitate foreign currency payment...

Timely completion of Dhaka-Ctg 4-lane highway continues to elude RHD

The timely implementation of the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane project continues to be uncertain as the stalemate between the project's major foreign contractor and the government over compensation persists. Sources said the standoff between the two parties over the issue continues to...

Financing of large infrastructure projects

Typically, the financing of large infrastructure projects is on a what is known as, 'non-recourse' or 'limited recourse' basis, that is, non-recourse to the project sponsors or to the host government. Recourse is limited to the project company and its...

Shifting tannery industries to Savar immediately

The tanneries in Hazaribagh pollute the air of Dhaka city. As these are located on the bank of the Buriganga, the river has been the disposal point of all liquid effluents since the beginning of the operation of these industries....

The shift in agricultural cropping pattern

Cropping pattern by farmers is a response to changing market and soil conditions. It is not static but it changes over time depending on farmers' perception about yield, topography, market size of the particular crop etc. Let us now look...

Upazila elections: BNP wins first round but Jamaat surprises all

Going by the reaction of the ruling party to the first round of the upazila elections, it would appear as if the ruling party candidates fared exceedingly well. In fact, their candidates performed disastrously. In the 97 chairman positions contested...

Educational policies as an integral part of development strategy

Education is an effective vehicle for enhancing human capabilities and for promoting social and economic development in many ways.  This paper particularly focuses on linking education to human resource development as an input to raising productivity and accelerating growth in...

CTMS for all ports and terminals in pipeline for container handling

The government is mulling introduction of Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) at all ports and terminals in the country keeping their automation as goal, sources said. The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has been asked to carry out a study and...

BB cancels over 400 licences of money exchangers in a decade

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has cancelled more than 400 licences of money exchangers in a decade allegedly due to their involvement in many undue activities under the licence, officials at the central bank said. According to them, some of these...

ADB fund to further develop capital market infrastructure

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has come up with its funding support under a fresh project to be launched for further infrastructure development of the country's capital markets, officials said. The Bank has already placed its proposal for the initiative...

AFBL working to seize a notable share of country\\\'s liquid milk market

Akij Food and Beverage Ltd (AFBL), a company of the Akij Group, is working to seize a notable share of the country's liquid milk market with its 'better quality product' in the next couple of years, its officials said. As...

DSE turnover crosses Tk 5b-mark

Stocks returned to the green Monday after previous session’s correction with turnover on the prime bourse crossed Tk 5.0 billion-mark as investors took position amid optimism. The market opened with a positive note and the positive trend continued till the...

HSBC’s Global Head of Trade visits Bangladesh

James Emmett, Global Head of Trade and Receivables Finance, HSBC, is visiting Bangladesh from 24 to 27 February 2014. During his stay in Bangladesh, James will meet colleagues from Bangladesh and a number of key HSBC clients and stakeholders. James...

Positive trend

The prices of most shares on both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Monday, the second trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index...

Govt to double its target to 0.4m tonnes from 0.2m tonnes

The government has decided to double its ongoing Aman rice procurement target to 0.4 million tonnes from the original 0.2 million tonnes due to positive response from the millers, a food directorate official said. "We have extended the procurement target...

Power Div seeks $252m interest-free loan from MoF for Rampal plants

The Power Division has sought US$252 million from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) as interest-free loan to build the coal-fired power plants at Rampal in Bagerhat district, officials said. "The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) has no capacity to finance...

Involving the private sector in building infrastructures

The supply of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, power plants and other public utilities has traditionally been the responsibility of the governments, both in capitalist and socialist economies. While the private sector is often subcontracted to carry out the...

Sanctity of Shaheed Minar

The deepest feeling of the nation is associated with the Sheed Minar (monument erected to commemorate the sacrifice of the language martyrs). No wonder, people throng at the central Shaheed Minar to offer their floral wreaths or bouquets as a...

Is RMG industry ready for \\\'transformation\\\'?

The country's apparel industry, undoubtedly, is at a crossroads. All stakeholders are unanimous that the industry needs a transformation, at the earliest, in terms of workplace safety, workers' rights and technological upgradation not only to retain its current ranking as...

Social security scheme for a low-income country

Government has already reformed industrial relations law which facilitates trade union formation and compensation in the event of accident or death connected with work. Government has also revised minimum wage raising it manifold. Safety standards at workplace also are to...

Stocks down, turnover up

Stocks closed lower Sunday, the opening day of the week with turnover improved slightly as investors followed cautious stance. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain. At the end of the day’s session, the prime index...