Storm over central bank\\\'s \\\'autonomy\\\'

Is the Bangladesh Bank (BB) independent?  The answer is both 'yes' and 'no'.  The incumbent finance minister feels that the BB enjoys enough autonomy. But the central bank's honchos seem to be not that satisfied with their current level of...

Narendra Modi and Indian elections

It all started with an obliquely floated remark from veteran Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar. At a conclave of the Indian National Congress in January, Mani Shankar Aiyar made the remark about the opposition politician Narendra Modi, who is from...

Stocks slip into red after four days

Stocks slipped into the red Sunday after four session’s gains with turnover declined slightly as investors booked marginal profit from their previous purchase.The market opened with a positive note and remained positive till mid- session, but it went down slowly...

Stocks open positive

Share prices on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Sunday amid modest seesaw, the first trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the...

T20 finale today: It’s a triumph of south Asian cricket

The contest between two cricket giants of the world in the finale of the 20/20 cricket tournament in the capital city of Bangladesh today (Sunday) is a triumph of south Asian cricket since both the teams are from this region....

BB creating Tk 2.0b jute sector refinance fund

The central bank is going to create its own refinance fund to the tune of Tk 2.0 billion for the jute sector following refusal of the government to provide a payment guarantee against the scheme, officials have said. A complete...

Reclaiming Dhanmondi Playground

A large number of local residents-men women and children-thronged Dhanmondi Playground in the city on March 28 last to voice their protest against illegal occupation of this decades'-old open space. They demanded of the authorities concerned to restore the playground...

Ananda Group to build container port, luxury hotel with investment of Tk 18b

Ananda Group, a leading conglomerate, is going to build a container port and a luxury hotel in the country with an estimated investment worth about Tk 18 billion, its high official said. "The group has already obtained license of the...

Cash incentives may lead to 70pc growth in furniture export in next fiscal year

Furniture export may register 70 per cent growth in the next fiscal if the sector gets cash incentives from the government, industry insiders said. Due to new contracts with Japan, US, Korea and other countries the export will increase 20...

Leather sector launches website today to help the industry grow

The leather sector is going to open a website named 'Promote Bangladesh Leather' with a view to helping grow the industry and connecting buyers and stakeholders across the world. Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu will inaugurate the website today (Sunday)...

Sale of electrical appliances jumps by 70pc

Sale of electrical appliances like fans, air conditioners (ACs), refrigerators and instant power supply (IPS) systems increased by about 70 per cent in the last three weeks due to hot weather, industry insiders said. Increasing demand also caused a price...

Redefining small and medium enterprises

The Bangladesh economy has undoubtedly passed through a considerable transformation over the last few decades from an agricultural base to an industrial thrust. Now the economy needs to intensify its industry-based activities. In order to achieve Vision 2021, we also...

Afghanistan votes on its future

The coverage on the impending Afghan presidential elections has been filled with death and chaos - the tragic shooting at the Serena hotel where an international election monitor was killed, the shocking attack on the Afghan Election Commission's headquarters, the...

Taxmen\\\'s sweeping powers irk taxpayers

Auditing of tax files, submitted under the universal self-assessment method, is creating dissatisfaction among the taxpayers. Allegations have it that some taxmen are exercising their discretionary powers taking advantage of the absence of specific criteria for auditing tax files, sources...

Next dev programme for MDGs to top agenda

Next development programme for the MDGs, pinpointing areas of regional and south-south co-operation, will be high on the agenda of the upcoming 2nd meeting of cabinet secretaries of the SAARC countries, officials said. The high-powered meeting will be held in...

Karnaphuli Water Treatment Plant likely to be ready by Dec

The construction work of the Karnaphuli Water Treatment Plant at Rangunia in Chittagong is likely to be completed this year. After completion the plant will be able to supply 143 million litres drinking water per day to Chittagong Water Supply...

1200 sub-contracting RMG units yet to implement new wages

The country's 1,200 sub-contracting readymade garment (RMG) factories are yet to implement the new wage board even after more than four months of its announcement, which could spark violence in apparel industrial hubs, officials said. The state-run Department of Inspection...

Stocks break losing streak

The market witnessed a positive week after five consecutive weeks of negative trend as investors went on a buying spree, mainly multinational companies' stocks. "The market closed higher as the investors reacted positively on time extension of the margin loan...

Govt\\\'s policy support to local fashion houses can save big amount of forex

The government's policy support to the local fashion houses could help the country save a significant amount of foreign currencies as a large volume of foreign made fashioned clothes enter into the local market annually, industry insiders said. The market...

Market swamped with fake computers

The local market is flooded with low quality and fake computers and accessories as a section of unscrupulous importers procure these items to get windfall, buyers and sellers have alleged. Sellers say higher prices of branded items and dumping tendency...

South Asia needs to establish a regional human rights mechanism

In the era of globalisation, nothing exists like 'individual in nature'. Rather everything has a global flavour and dimension. Human rights as a global phenomenon has already crossed the level of individual state concern and become a part of international...

Crimea: Too small to matter

Crimea is permanently lost to Russia. That is implicit in President Barack Obama's remarks about where the Ukraine crisis heads next; the terms of the Paris talks between Secretary of State John Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,...

Bangladesh to help double rice production up in Himalayas

On March 26, the Red Green Flag of Bangladesh flew in the backdrop of Himalaya to mark the Independence Day of Bangladesh. Bishnu Roy Choudhury, the Bangladesh Ambassador in Bhutan gratefully remembered Bhutan as the first country that recognised independence...

Concepts of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. The nanotechnology has its roots date back to a 1959 talk given by Richard Feynman (http:/nano.xerox.com/nanotech/feynman.html) in which he said, "The principles of Physics, as far as...

Place of Bangladesh in global sanitation graph

Eighty per cent of the diseases in developing counties are caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation, as well as their inadequate facilities. Open defecation is one of the main causes of diarrhoea, which results in the death of more...

In search of a recipe for resurrection of films

That the middle class -let alone the upper class - has long stopped visiting cinema halls is a common complaint. Many cites the ever presence of the idiot's box, TV that is, as the reason for the reluctance of people...

Price stability during Ramadan

The government has decided to build stocks of essentials including edible oil and sugar to keep prices stable in the holy month of Ramadan. The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) is to sell the items in three phases---15 days...

Firms given until April 24 to submit financial offers

The time was extended by three weeks for the technically-responsive international firms to submit financial offers on construction of the main Padma bridge. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) extended Thursday the time till April 24 on request from two firms...

GSP action plan review, easing rules of origin to top agenda

A review of the generalised system of preferences (GSP) Action Plan and relaxation of the rules of origin will top the upcoming TICFA meeting agenda, officials have said. The meeting of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) is...

Concerned about democratic rights

When a well-known business leader attempts to write on economic and trade matters, the exercise becomes worthwhile as it is believed to reflect on the subject in myriad shades and forms. Then, when it comes from someone inextricably linked with...