Ambiguity, populism mark a pro-growth approach

Finance Minister AMA Muhith Thursday placed the Tk.2.5 trillion national budget for the next fiscal (2014-15) setting the country's economic growth target at 7.3 per cent for the year. The finance minister fixed the higher growth target with the expectation...

19-party to stage countrywide demonstration Monday

The BNP-led 19-party alliance will stage demonstrations across the country Monday protesting the 'growing' incidents of killing, forced disappearance and abduction, reports UNB. BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a press briefing at the BNP's...

A deep look into the present-day realities of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is negotiating a difficult path in the present-day global scenario as it is beset with myriad problems that a developing nation, having its own characteristics, generally faces. Nevertheless, the country of 160 million people is making remarkable strides on...

Unemployment and corruption

The fact that unemployment causes corruption is well established and makes sense both from common observations and rigorous theoretical points of view. However, the fact that corruption also causes unemployment can struck one as a total surprise. To make an...

When the US needs support, Europe pleads poverty

The United States has troubles. This was the subtext of President Barack Obama's speech at the United States Military Academy at West Point last week. The latest trouble is the raw ambition of Russian President Vladimir Putin to dominate as...

S Korean exports suffer worst decline

South Korean exports last month suffered their worst decline in eight months as a drop in Chinese demand and the effect from fewer working days more than offset growing purchases by European and US customers. South Korea, the fourth-largest economy...

India services activity grows for first time in nearly a year

Activity in India's huge services industry expanded for the first time in nearly a year in May, driven by a surge in new business, a survey showed on Wednesday. The HSBC Services Purchasing Managers' Index, compiled by Markit, rose to...

Stocks close flat amid cautious stance

Stocks closed flat on Thursday with slight improvement in turnover as investors remained cautious on announcement of the national budget.The market started with a positive note, but the morning hype evaporated gradually as session progressed. At the end of the...

DSE, CSE open positive

The prices of most of the shares on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed positive trend in the opening sessions on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE,...

July deadline for Iran nuclear deal appears in jeopardy

Option B: The blueprint for Thailand\\\'s coup

On Dec. 27 last year, Thailand's powerful army chief stood before a crowded news conference and stunned the beleaguered government of Yingluck Shinawatra by saying he would not rule out military intervention to resolve a deteriorating political crisis. General Prayuth...

Stock market regains stability, not buoyancy

Country's stock market that had received severe mauling in 2010 has been able to regain stability in the outgoing fiscal (2013-14) but not the desired level of buoyancy.  The capital market regulator and the government initiated a number of measures...

DSE, CSE to enjoy 5-yr tax holiday, dividend tax-free up to Tk 15000

The government is set to offer tax holiday facility for Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) for the next five years until 2019, in the budget for fiscal year 2014-15. It may also allow capital market investors...

MoU readied for building deep-sea port by Chinese co

The government has prepared a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming to award the job of building the deep seaport in Sonadia by a Chinese company, sources said. The MoU may be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Beijing visit from...

NBFIs should rely more on bonds than deposit

The country's non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) should move away from their deposit reliance to the bond option for the sake of healthy development in the financial sector, an international financial consultant said.  "To my mind, the bond market can be...

Business brass to urge China to ramp up BD garment imports

Bangladeshi business leaders will urge their Chinese counterparts to bump up apparel imports from Bangladesh, helping to raise the share to at least 10 per cent, the head of the country's apex trade body said.    "China imports apparel products worth...

WiMAX businesses having bumpy ride after 3G service

The WiMAX business is facing a blow following a major expansion of 3G (third generation) internet service by the mobile phone operators since October last year. As a result, the companies providing WiMAX facility are planning to introduce LTE (Long...

Strengthening resilience, working for a sustainable future

Climate change is a major challenge for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as global warming is causing ocean levels to rise. Due to their small size and isolation, SIDS are more vulnerable to natural and environmental disasters, climate change and...

Talebans threaten Afghan run-off elections

As the campaign for the June 14 run-off presidential election in Afghanistan continues in full swing amidst sporadic violence, the Islamic militant Talebans have urged the voters to stay away from voting. They have threatened the voters of dire consequences...

Stocks slip in red for second day

Stocks slipped in the red for second running session on Wednesday with turnover rose slightly as investors continued to book short-term profit amid cautious stance. The market opened with positively yet it failed to sustain the momentum. Eventually, DSEX, the...

Stocks see upward trend at opening

The prices of most of the shares on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed upward trend in the early hours of the session on Wednesday, the 4rth trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index...

Basic Bank : The cost of political choice?

Two different vernacular contemporaries in their last Tuesday's issues carried news reports on the state-owned BASIC Bank which has, of late, earned infamy because of large-scale loan irregularities. The content of one report, headlined, 'BASIC Bank in the red for...

Sonali, Janata, Agrani up one step in BB rating

A CAMELS rating of the central bank has found one-step improvement of three state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs), while the status of another SoCB remains unchanged. The evaluation, which took into account capital adequacy, asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity...

Budget FY 2014-15: Re-examining trade and industrial policies

The national budget for FY 2014-15 is knocking at the door. It is essential to understand the causes of declining growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The reasons are falling investment, demand-induced decreased import of capital machinery, concentration of productive...

Banking for working children

Poor people always believe in having cash in hand. They are fond of pocket accounting.  What cash they have in their pocket is often how they manage their money. They do not like bank accounts because having a bank account,...

Experts, city dwellers fret over rising number of motorcycles

At present more than half of the country's total registered motorised vehicles are motorcycles, following a soaring growth in the number of bike during the last couple of years. Officials said the number of unregistered motorbikes is, however, more than...

BD basic garment risks taking a hit as India, EU move closer to FTA

Bangladesh's garment industry risks taking a battering if India and the European Union sign free trade agreement, insiders have feared. They say the government should facilitate establishment of textiles and backward linkage industry to stave off the possible negative impact...

Workers of closed garment factory in Mirpur file cases against management for compensation

Workers of a Dhaka apparel factory have filed 18 cases with the Labour Court against its management seeking their due compensations and other benefits, sources said. The production of the factory has been suspended following the recent inspections conducted by...

Stocks close lower amid cautious trade

Stocks ended lower on Tuesday with turnover dipping below Tk 4.0 billion-mark on the major bourse as investors kept their attention to the upcoming national budget. The market opened with positively yet it failed to sustain the momentum. Eventually, DSEX,...

DSE, CSE open positive

The prices of most of the shares on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Tuesday, the third trading session of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the...