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...

Of freedom and security

Freedom is as important as security. We humans need both freedom and security. Security needs to be balanced with freedom because without freedom we would be living in fear of the state or the government demanding of us, or dictating,...

Socially responsible financing

The concept of Socially Responsible Finance (SRF) and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) continues to grow, especially in the wake of one of the most devastating financial crises in history. This includes responsibility from the corporate side (corporate social responsibility) as...

Primary growers deserve better

Poultry farmers from different areas under Dhamrai upazila registered a novel protest on Tuesday last in order to draw the attention of the authorities concerned. More than 500 owners of poultry farms smashed about 20,000 eggs on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway...

Tongi-Bhairab double track rly now to be completed by 2015

With more than 75 per cent construction of the Tongi-Bhairab double track railway project complete, the scheduled time for the project is likely to be extended up to May 2015. Upgrading the existing single track to double to increase line...

FPMU will submit proposals to government soon

The food planning and monitoring unit (FPMU) will submit a set of recommendations to the government soon that include developing proper marketing system to ensure fair prices of the growers product. Earlier the FPMU, which is under the ministry of...

65 RMG, textile units fail to start production for want of gas supply

Owners of more than 65 readymade garment (RMG) and textile units are facing bankruptcy as they have failed to start production in their factories for want of gas connections, industry insiders said. The government has stopped providing new gas connections...

DSEX crosses 4,600-mark

Stocks extended gaining streak for the fourth consecutive session Thursday with improved turnover and the key index of the prime bourse crossed 4,600 point-mark as investors continued to take position amid optimism. The key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange...

DSE, CSE open positive

Share prices on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed positive trend in early hours of trading on Thursday, maintaining the previous day’s upward trend. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by...

Tk 6b spent beyond approved cost

The government has spent at least Tk 6.00 billion beyond the approved cost of Padma Bridge project due to delay in starting the construction of the country's longest bridge. Experts apprehend the spending will go up further for additional plan...

Bangladesh to seek power import from Bhutan

Dhaka will request Thimphu to export power to Bangladesh during the upcoming commerce secretary level meeting next week in Bhutan, a high trade official said. The commerce secretary level meeting of Bangladesh and Bhutan will be held on April 9-10...

FDI falls by 30 per cent in two months

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country has fallen drastically in the first two months of the current calendar year as the investors are still in 'wait-and- see' mood fearing further political turmoil, officials and industry insiders said. They also...

BGMEA working to comply with action plan

The apex trade body in the apparel sector is implementing fast the Bangladesh Action Plan, as set out by the US, in a bid to get the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) facility revived in the US market. A good...

Russia-Bangladesh relations in the context of Crimean vote

If we could for a moment forget we are in 2014 and also be unaware in which year we are, then a few events occurring in the country's politics in recent times could mislead us into believing that the Cold...

DSE turnover reaches Tk5.0b

Stocks ended higher for the third running session Wednesday with turnover reaching Tk 5.0 billion-mark after 15-trading session as investors took position amid optimism. The market opened with a positive trend and the upward trend continued till the market closure....

Prices up at DSE, CSE

Share prices on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed upward trend in early hours of trading on Wednesday, the fourth trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up...

Taxpayers puzzled with jurisdiction problems

Taxpayers are still facing problem to locate their actual jurisdiction due to redistribution of tax files in different tax zones after expansion of tax offices in 2011. Both taxmen and taxpayers are confused over the actual jurisdiction of some individual...

Taxpayers need to get some tangible benefits

None -- no matter whether he or she is a citizen of a rich country or that of a poor one -- likes to pay tax because payment of tax would erode his or her income or profit. Yet the...

Malaysia to recruit 0.15m BD farm workers

Malaysia is interested to recruit 0.15m (1.5 lakh) Bangladeshi farm workers for development of its agriculture sector, said visiting Malaysian Home Minister Dr. Ahmed Zahid Hamidi Tuesday, reports UNB. Dr Hamidi said this when he met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina...

Labour bodies criticise govt for failing to publish authentic list of missing RMG workers

The lists of unidentified Rana Plaza victims published by the government and labour organisation contradict each other. Labour organisations alleged that the authorities concerned have failed to publish an authentic list of the missing apparel workers even nearly a year...

Net foreign investment in DSE hits 3-month low

Net foreign investment into the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped to a three-month low in March as foreign investors adopted a 'go-slow' policy amid cautious stance. Month-on-month net foreign investment dropped 20 per cent in March as foreign investors bought...

Futures, forwards should go first for launching in BD

Commodity derivatives exchange that the authorities are mulling over to launch in Bangladesh in the near future can help the farmers get fair price of their crops, an international expert on derivatives said. "Under the 'Future', one of the four...

Eradicating the \\\'curse\\\' of autism

Autism is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders known as the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which has an effect on normal brain functioning characterised by social adaptation impairments, communication difficulties, and by restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behaviour. It also affects...

A genius could be hidden inside an autistic child

Throughout history, the human brain was brushed aside as just the white and grey matter. Everybody downplayed the role of the mysterious material between our ears. It's not more than for the last one hundred years that scientists started to...

Natural foods have medicinal value

To keep ourselves healthy, we need balanced diet and fruits for vitamins and minerals. Balance diet, which will balance all elements of our body, is what we need for surviving. These elements are vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins etc. Natural foods...

Rohingyas in Myanmar: Target of fresh discrimination

Myanmar has announced that the Muslims in the violence-prone Rakhine state will not be allowed to register their ethnicity in the nationwide census. This has come as a fresh discrimination against them. The authorities ordered that these people be registered...

Stocks close higher for second day

Stocks ended higher Tuesday with turnover crossing Tk 3.0 billion-mark after three sessions as investors took position amid optimism. The market opened with a positive trend and the upward trend continued till the market closure. At the end of the...