PPP initiative yet to see full launch of any project

Two years have gone by since the establishment of the public-private partnership (PPP) office, but the implementation of any project is yet to begin under it, different sources said. The PPP office has accorded approval to the Dhaka elevated expressway,...

Big groups still reluctant to float shares for public

Most of the country's leading business groups and corporate entities are reluctant to go public due to multiple factors, company insiders said. Among the major reasons, many companies prefer to avoid rules and regulations set for listed companies by the...

Syria: Will warring factions heed Pope\\\'s call for peace?

Pope Francis called for immediate peace in strife-torn Syria as he arrived in Jordan on Saturday (May 24) to see for himself the Syrian refugees, now sheltered in Jordan. The Pope expressed deep anguish and frustration over the unremitting civil...

Shadow banking outside banks

Ever since the banking crisis overwhelmed the financial world in 2008, obtaining bank loans for any purpose has been a daunting task in any corner of the world. Bankers have become hypersensitive about their reputations regarding loose and predatory lending...

CSR for inclusive and sustained growth

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intends to undertake activities by integrating economic, environmental and social aspects.  In recent times, conceptual framework and practices of CSR have broadened in multi-dimensional arenas. Along with the spending for the community, practices of green banking...

The perils of collateral security

The term 'collateral security' frequently resonates across the Board Rooms, Credit Committees and Credit Departments of the banks for evaluation of loan proposals.  Unfortunately, ignorance and negligence to identify the risks inherent in securing bank's exposure through collateral security are...

Mandatory installation of solar panels on building roofs goes

The government has decided to withdraw the mandatory requirement of installing solar panels on the rooftop of buildings for getting new electricity connections to households, officials said. According to the new rule, a customer will have to deposit the cost...

Infected betel leaves threaten Tk 15b export of fresh fruits, vegetable to EU

Bangladesh's export of fresh fruits and vegetable to the European Union (EU) countries is set to hit snags if the authorities do not stop export of betel leaves infected with harmful Salmonella Bacterium, officials said. Trade relations with the EU...

Fresh move to boost jute exports to Syria

Bangladesh has beefed up its efforts to boost jute goods exports to Syria as political situation in the Middle-Eastern nation has started improving, officials said. The state-run Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) will export jute goods worth Tk 1.35 billion...

For polluted China, gas is a matter of life or death

"If I work in your Beijing, I would shorten my life at least five years," Premier Zhu Rongji, a career politician from Shanghai, quipped in 1999, referring to the notorious air pollution in China's northern capital. Research has confirmed life...

DSE up, CSE down at opening

Shares prices on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw positive trend while the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw negative trend in early hours of trading on Monday, the second trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE,...

Negotiations with Chinese firm on PMB project begins

The government has initiated negotiations with the Chinese firm on various financial and technical aspects for signing the final deal on construction of the Tk 121.33 billion Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB). The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) sits today (Monday) with...

BASIC Bank MD removed for \\\'negligence of duty\\\'

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) ordered Sunday the removal of Managing Director (MD) Kazi Faqurul Islam from the post of MD of BASIC Bank Limited on the charges of negligence of duty and irregularities apart from the failure to protect the...

German entrepreneurs to send investment proposal to govt soon

German entrepreneurs will send their formal investment proposal to the government soon aiming to increase bilateral trade between the two countries, a joint chamber leader said. He said the German businessmen who visited the country last week have expressed their...

Govt to launch another short-term tool to better manage cash

The government has decided to introduce yet another short term bill for better handling of cash management, sources said. The instrument namely, 'cash management bill' will be of 14 days' limit which recently got approval of the Cash and Debt...

Aggression unleashed by fishmongers

Fishmongers are usually a docile type of community who know their art well. But of late, intruders into the trade have been overtly responsible for its corrosion. How corroded fish trade has become can better be gauged by the aggression...

Mist over GDP growth rate

What will be the rate of growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Bangladesh during the outgoing fiscal (2013-14)? A precise figure is difficult to predict. The multilateral donors-the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and the...

DSE turnover hits 7-month low

Stocks ended flat in red on Sunday amid choppy trading throughout the session with participation remained sluggish as investors followed ‘wait-and-see’ policy ahead of upcoming national budget. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) went down by...

Stocks down at opening

Stocks on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw negative trend in early hours of trading on Sunday amid choppy trading, the first trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went down...

Thai development: Army take-over no answer to political crisis

The military take-over in Thailand has not come as a surprise. In fact, it has been somewhat a logical corollary to the developments that had been going on in this south east Asian nation for last several months. The elected...

Banned drugs still on drug stores\\\' shelf

The Drug Administration (DA) last month banned five generic drugs for their 'harmful' effect on human life. But it has not recalled the drugs from the market in line with practice followed most countries, sources said. The DA has asked...

Reclaiming rivers around Dhaka city

Prime Minister (PM)Sheikh Hasina directed the relevant ministries last week to clear four rivers around Dhaka city and two in Chittagong of unauthorised occupation. The PM also asked the authorities concerned to make the rivers pollution-free as soon as possible....

Businessmen to seek Japanese infra support during Tokyo tour

Bangladeshi businessmen will request their Japanese counterparts to scale up imports from Bangladesh and increase investment to help narrow the trade gape between the two countries, a trade body leader said. A business delegation lead by the Federation of Bangladesh...

Bangladesh agriculture -- prevailing realities

Bangladesh is one of the least developed countries in the world. The majority of its people depend on agriculture for survival. Despite planned efforts by the government to increase agricultural productivity for over four decades, the growth and output in...

China-Russia is a match made in heaven

As Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Russia's historic $400 billion gas-supply agreement with China, he must have felt the satisfaction of a chess grandmaster revealing the inexorable outcome of a complicated endgame. In theory, the next phase of the chess...

Thailand: Democracy moans in pain

After Thailand's army declared martial law at dawn on Tuesday (May 20), military officials said "This is not a coup. People don't need to panic". A curfew was imposed; but nobody bothered. Tourists and pedestrians were posing with the soldiers...

Mercantile Bank\\\'s move to facilitate industrial growth

Managing cost of fund, encouraging low cost deposits and lowering higher rate of bank loans are the top priorities of Mercantile Bank Ltd to facilitate industrial growth of the country, the Bank's Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)...

Rethinking about higher education system in Bangladesh

There is no denying the fact that 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world' as said by Nelson Mandela. Needless to say, education is the password in the path of enlightenment and prosperity....

BTRC starts taking harsh steps against defaulting IGW cos

The country's telecom regulator has started taking stringent measures to realise its dues, coming to around Tk 9.0 billion, from the international gateway (IGW) operators, which work for termination of international VoIP calls in the country. The operators, mainly some...

Birshreshtha Rouf\\\'s mother dies

FARIDPUR, May 23 (UNB): Mukidunnesa, mother of Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf, died of old age complications at her Arpara village residence in Madhukhali Upazila Thursday night. She was 99. Mukidunnesa left behind her two daughters, one son and a host...