Restive politics puts a damper on insurers’ premium income

The country's insurance sector was affected severely by the heightened political tensions and sluggish economic growth in the last calendar year (CY). Premium income of the country's insurance companies declined by 6.15 per cent to Tk 76.785 billion (7678.5 crore)...

Stocks return to red amid cautious trading

After a single week break, the stock market plunged into the red as cautious investors booked profit and re-balanced their portfolios during the week, notwithstanding improved turnover. Despite infrequent profit taking, Large Cap segment remained positive over corporate declarations and...

Restoration of US GSP: Some observations

We have for some time been locked in rhetoric and war of words over the temporary 'loss' of trade benefits under US Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Emotional outbursts have taken centre-stage in the country on the modalities of winning...

7th FYP should focus on people\\\'s interest

Turning Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041 is a key objective of the incumbent government. Bangladesh can become a middle-income economy by 2019-20, two years before the target if the economy keeps...

Afghan poll: Too soon to write off Taliban

Afghanistan's presidential election closed on April 05 last amid relief that attacks by Taliban fighters were fewer than feared. The voting that will see the first-ever democratic transfer of power in a country plagued by conflicts for decades. It will...

Cactus drink

In the sixties of the last century while travelling in the Australian outback, I had cactus drink. One can over live few days with it. Cactus is an Australian plant. It usually did not grow in Bangladesh. But it is...

Suchitra Sen: A legendary heroine of Bengali film

Suchitra Sen, a legendary heroine of Bengali film, was born on April 6 in 1931. She breathed her last on January 17 in 2014 in Kolkata. Her family name was Roma Das Gupta. Suchitra Sen is her filmy name. Roma...

Values and norms prized by ethnic people

Can a people be superior to another? Confronting such a question is quite disquieting. It is not easy to agree on the criteria for determining a people's superiority. A particular people may have produced a very large number and proportionate...

Overall imports grow by 13.49pc in 8 months

The country's overall imports grew by 13.49 per cent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2013-14, following higher import of food gains, particularly rice and wheat, officials said. "The overall imports increased during the period...

Fund shortage affects SCITI functioning

Shortage of fund is badly affecting the overall functioning of the Small and Cottage Industries Training Institute (SCITI), officials said.   "We are unable to function properly due to budget shortage. We proposed to the BSCIC to revise the budget so...

Upgraded status and salary raise for primary teachers

Salary of the headmasters of government primary schools in the country has been raised and their status upgraded. According to an announcement by the prime minister on March 09, the head teachers will now enjoy the status of class II...

A passage to Chittagong Hill Tracts

In this largely deltaic plain, they remain mostly forgotten -a world apart. But if Bangladesh's diversity has to be realised in its unerring context, the hilly districts on the south-eastern fringe of this land are the places one must pay...

Another concession to India

Bangladesh's generosity when it comes to India is on an upswing since the Awami League returned to office for a second consecutive term following the controversial January 05 elections that the Congress-led government in India backed strongly. The new AL-led...

Govt yet to reply

The government is yet to reply to a High Court (HC) rule on making legal framework for the Shariah-based banks and financial institutions, lawyer concerned said. Almost 10 months ago, the HC issued the rule asking the government to explain...

Hidden cost passed on to commuters

Commuters will have to bear at least 30 per cent of the fares proposed for the new taxicab service in Dhaka city as 'hidden cost' and loss on account of traffic jams. The picture emerges after assessment of different charges...

China calls on US to restrain Japan as tension simmers

China called on the United States this week to restrain ally Japan and chided another US ally, the Philippines, at the end of talks between American and Chinese defense chiefs that showed the strain of regional territorial disputes on Sino-U.S....

Afghanistan\\\'s surprises in presidential election

Despite Taliban threats to attack polling stations nationwide, the same percentage of Afghans turned out to vote - roughly 58 per cent - as did Americans in the 2012 U.S. presidential race. Instead of collapsing, Afghan security forces effectively secured...

DSE turnover dips below Tk 5b-mark

Stocks ended another flat session Thursday with turnover on the prime bourse dipped below Tk 5.0 billion-mark as investors remained cautious.The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX--- ended at 4,592.73 points, losing 1.59 points or 0.03...

Positive trend at DSE, CSE

Share prices on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed positive trend in early hours of trading on Thursday, the last trading session of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by...

Ban on six generic drugs suggested

The recommendation for banning six generic drugs in the local market made by the Adverse Drugs Reaction Advisory Committee (ADRAC) is now awaiting the Drug Control Committee's decision. Several experts in their opinion said although the director general of the...

Govt mulls subsidy for exporters of agro-processing products

The government is now mulling providing cash subsidy also to exporters of agro-processing products as is enjoyed by the existing manufacturer-exporters of such items, officials say. The government has taken an initiative to this end to enhance exports and expand...

Govt finalises progress report on Action Plan next week

The government will finalise the progress report on 'Bangladesh Action Plan 2013' on April 13 before sending it to the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) by 15th of the current month in a bid to regain a suspended trade facility...

Pakistan opposition to challenge new anti-terror law in court

Pakistani opposition parties are planning to challenge a sweeping new anti-terror law in court, politicians said this werek, because they fear it will legalize human rights violations. The Protection of Pakistan Bill was passed late on Monday amid protests from...

Man and myth collide as Modi eyes final ascent to power

Narendra Modi spent his childhood in a modest three-room dwelling made of mud and brick nestled in a narrow, crowded lane in the western Indian town of Vadnagar. The tea stall his father ran with the help of his sons...

Ensuring economic security

Threats to economic security of Bangladesh emanate from both internal and external sources. Internal insecurity comes mainly from massive poverty and while the external one originates mainly from the process of globalisation. Substantial dependence on external assistance and smuggling also...

Jewellery shops thrive on smuggled gold

There are about 20/22 thousand jewellery shops in Bangladesh. Daily sale in these shops is estimated at Tk 200 million. Surprisingly, no gold is imported through letter of credit. Expatriate Bangladeshis can bring 200 grams of gold each while returning...

Tackling the menace of gold smuggling

Judging by the avalanche of gold flowing into the country, the euphemism 'Sonar Bangla' seems to be crystallising into reality! Every other day the media carries news of big hauls of gold bars and coins intercepted by the law-enforcement agencies...

The end of an era

Mr. ABM Musa is no more. He breathed his last on Wednesday (April 09, 2014) at the Labaid Hospital in the city. His death has not come as a bolt from the blue. As the news of his death was...

The challenges of time present

"Time past and Time Present", wrote T.S. Eliot, are one at time future. Whether this will be the case in Bangladesh is a trillion dollar question. For Bangladesh April 2014 is really another time. The past is gone, as it...

News Brief

Tarek Elba, Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd has been elected as the president of the France-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIFB) for the year 2014-15 & 2015-16. The CCIFB elected its new President and the Executive...