VAT for superstores halved

The revenue board has halved Value Added Tax (VAT) for the country's superstores in a bid to encourage consumers to buy quality products at reasonable prices from such outlets. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) cut the VAT on purchase...

PKB doles out Tk 400m in loan last yr

The Probashi Kallyan Bank (expatriates' welfare bank) has disbursed Tk 400 million in loans to the migrants so far with a satisfactory recovery rate, a top official of the bank, said. "We have disbursed Tk 400 million as migration loans...

Foreign goods dominating DITF

Foreign products are largely dominating the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) as many local traders are selling those mainly due to poor participation of domestic manufacturers in the country's largest annual trade carnival, organisers and participants said. Among 497 participants,...

Govt under pressure over moves against TUs

The government is set to face mounting pressure from the western countries over allegation of growing harassment and termination of labour leaders for trying to form trade unions in the readymade garment (RMG) factories, sources said. The US embassy in...

Cell-phone cos may elbow out WiMAX, ISPs

Mobile phone operators are likely to elbow out Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and WiMAX operators in providing broadband internet service to people in future, industry insiders opine. At present, two WiMAX operators - Banglalion and Qubee - and about 100...

Stocks close higher for 6th week

Stocks continued its gaining streak for the sixth straight week with key index of the premier bourse setting a new high, powered by investors' buying spree. "A gradual increase in investors' confidence helped the market set the new high. The...

Will the upazila elections ensure strengthening local government?

Upazila administration in the country was introduced by Hussein Muhammad Ershad, ostensibly to strengthen the local government bodies and to take administration to the doorsteps of the common people. It actually witnessed a strengthened role in running the affairs of...

Breastfeeding practice law: A new mother is a scapegoat

"Women in much of the world lack support for fundamental functions of a human life." (Nussbaum 2000) Women in most of the countries including Saudi Arabia are treated as lesser bearers of human rights. Thus women are victims of abuse,...

A story on Paul Getty Museum

Established in 1954, and located at 1200 Getty Centre Drive, Los Angeles (LA), California, USA, Getty Museum is well-known throughout the world. Art lovers know about it better. I personally came to know of the name of J Paul Getty...

Poet Nazrul: The nightingale of humanity and freedom

DEMOCRACY is considered as the foundation of modern civilistion. The more democratic the country is, the more civilised the nation is. People of a true democratic country enjoy their fundamental rights through personal liberty and freedom. The most dangerous threat...

Better deal for women in politics needed

The politics of South Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Burma, and Sri Lanka is being increasingly dominated by women. Generally, women have occupied the top positions as Prime Minister or President or are playing prominent roles in the parliaments...

No civilised society approves taking young life

Murders take place in myriad forms in this country. Teenagers also fall victim to mindless homicide following family feuds. What a primitive way of exacting revenge on rivals! If no particular area in the country is immune to this deranged...

DTCA, LGED in row over bus rapid transit on flyover

Authorities of the bus rapid transit and the Moghbazar-Malibagh flyover projects are locked in a row over changes in the design of the under-construction flyover to accommodate an uninterrupted bus lane in it. Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has been...

NCTB launches \\\'Class Room Tryout Programme\\\'

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has launched 'Class Room Tryout Programme' across the country to justify utility of the current textbook syllabus, sources at the board said. They said that the curriculum board has already formed 70 high-powered...

Market share of local woven fabrics in RMG export stagnating

The market share of local woven fabrics in RMG export is stagnating for the last three years despite rising demand every year, data shows. Though the mills have expanded their production capacity in line with export growth but their market...

BD cargo flights linking overseas nations go up, prompting air deals

Cargo flight operations from Bangladesh increased significantly in the recent years, leading to the country's signing of bilateral air agreements with at least seven European and Asian destinations alone in 2013, sources said. Last year, Bangladesh signed air agreements and...

Women in tourism sector and Bangladesh scenario

Tourism is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing industries. In many countries it acts as an engine for development through foreign exchange earnings and creation of direct and indirect employment for men and women. Tourism contributes 5.0 per cent...

Violence on Rajshahi University campus

Rajshahi has one of the most famous universities in the country. But it is sad that the university witnessed several deadly clashes triggered mainly by the pro- Awami League student wing, Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) in recent time. The bloody...

Spectre of cancer scourge

The warning is grim, to say the least. Cancer will see a 70 per cent increase in incidence worldwide from 14 million patients in 2012 to 24 million in 2035. This alarm bell has been sounded by none other than...

Stocks, turnover up on DSE, CSE

Stocks ended higher on Thursday after two sessions’ marginal correction with improved turnover value as investors went for buying spree again amid optimism. The market opened with a positive note and the upward trend continued till the closure of the...

Stocks see sharp rise at opening

The prices of most of the stocks on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed upward trend in early hours of trading Thursday, the last trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the...

MFIs asked not to write off loans before 2-yr wait

The microcredit regulator has directed micro-finance institutions (MFIs) to wait two years before writing off a classified loan. The Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) recently issued a uniform guideline on writing off classified loans to remove confusion in this regard, said...

Rampant import of raw rubber threatens local production

3500 tonnes of locally produced raw rubber worth Tk 630 million has long been lying unsold, officials close to the sector said. Besides, the domestic rubber industry is lately facing a threat due to the rampant import of raw rubber...

Govt revenue from DSE marks 10pc rise

The government's revenue earnings from the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose 10 per cent in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY), compared to the same period of last FY as the trading volume increased. The government...

Climate displacement and durable solutions

Bangladesh ranked fifth among 10 countries most vulnerable to the climate change-induced natural disasters in the last two decades from 1993 to 2012, according to a report. During the period, Bangladesh suffered damages worth US$ 1,832.70 million, caused by 242...

Stocks close flat amid volatility

Stocks closed flat Wednesday after volatile trading throughout the session with turnover decline further as investors witnessed a cautious trading amid profit booking tendency. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX --- went up slightly by...

Stocks close flat amid volatility

Stocks closed flat Wednesday after volatile trading throughout the session with turnover decline further as investors witnessed a cautious trading amid profit booking tendency. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX --- went up slightly by...

Imports up by 11.59pc in H1

The country's overall imports grew by 11.59 per cent in the first half (H1) of the current fiscal year (FY), 2013-`14, despite political uncertainty, officials said Tuesday. "The overall imports increased in the first six months of FY `14 mainly...

When delays are deliberate

The problem of cost escalation in relation to public sector projects, particularly the major ones, has become a chronic one and the country's economy has been paying too heavy a price on this account. For instance, according to a report...

Tax on profits of wage earners\\\' bonds bought before July 2011 exempted

Investors will enjoy tax exemption on profits from wage-earners' development bonds purchased before July 2011, the revenue board said Tuesday. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued the directive to remove confusion regarding tax exemption facility for investors in wage...