BHBFC seeks Tk 10b budgetary allocation

The Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) has sought Tk 5.0 billion budgetary allocation for the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14, and requested allocation of Tk 5.0 billion every fiscal year beginning from FY 2014-15 to continue its lending programmes, sources...

US bankers voice new optimism as businesses line up for loans

Loans to businesses have risen to a record high and bank executives say they are increasingly optimistic about the U.S. economy. Increasing demand for bank loans often is a prelude to higher economic growth. With the U.S. government budget crisis...

Sheikh Jamal play IFA final today

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club take on Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club in the IFA Shield final at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata today. The match begins at 6:30pm (BST) and will be telecast live on satellite channel Star Jalsha Movies....

NBR revenue target slashed by Tk 110b on big H1 shortfall

The government has cut the revenue mobilisation target for the National Board of Revenue (NBR) by Tk 110 billion following a big shortfall in its collection until December last of the current fiscal year (FY). The government cut the revenue...

International marketing: \\\'Innovention\\\' rules the game

According to a recent US survey on senior executives, marketing will be the most important area of expertise for business leaders of the next generation. The study commissioned by the Institute of International Research sought to identify key areas for...

Problems in preparing district budget

The term 'budget' generally refers to a detailed plan of annual income and expenditure of a government. As the present government is on record saying that it is responsive to the people's hopes and expectations, it is likely to make...

Taking care of health through mobile phones

Improving the health status of people by using mobile devices is called mHealth. In a broader sense, mHealth encompasses any use of mobile technology to address health care challenges such as access, quality, affordability, matching of resources, and behavioural norms...

Yingluck\\\'s rice-pledging programme in trouble: Thai farmers protest

Generous subsidies for farmers were a centerpiece of the platform that swept Yingluck Shinawatra to power in a landslide election  in 2011, but have left Thailand with vast stockpiles of rice and a bill it is struggling to fund. Hundreds...

Process of setting up hi-tech parks in divisional cities begins

The government has started the process of setting up  hi-tech parks in some divisional cities to promote the country's information and communication technology (ICT) sector. At the first stage, hi-tech parks will be set up in  Mohakhali, Kaliakoir in Gazipur,...

Stocks break 6-week gaining streak amid profit booking

 Stocks ended lower last week that ended Thursday, breaking the six straight week of gaining streak as investors pocketed profit almost throughout the week. The week featured all five trading sessions. The market retraced all the sessions during the week...

WB team arrives tomorrow to review MTBF project

A 13-member mission of the World Bank (WB) will visit Bangladesh from February 16 to March 2 to review its Deepening Medium Term Budget Framework (MTBF) and Strengthening Financial Accountability Project, officials said. The mission will focus on restructuring of...

BGMEA, BKMEA bosses dodge RMG safety taskforce meeting

None of the directors of the BGMEA and the BKMEA are attending the meetings of government's taskforce on labour welfare and occupational safety in readymade garment (RMG) sector causing delay in implementation of important decisions, sources said. "Mid level officials...

Protecting health of children

Palash, aged two years, son of Rahima of Tongi, was brought to the Paediatrics department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital recently with fever and cold complications. On duty physicians at the hospital prescribed medicines for the child and advised his...

Searching honest and efficient science advisers

A very hopeful message was published in a national daily on February 6, 2014 quoting that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is looking for honest and efficient resource persons to speed up the development activities in the country. She likes...

The cricket history of Mymensingh

No one knows when the first cricket of Mymensingh was played. No doubt that at the very outset of the nineteenth century, cricket was played in Mymensingh with great enthusiasm. It does not mean that cricket was not played in...

A story of Palm Springs Tramway

During our seven months' stay, rather a long sojourn, on UCR campus we visited several historical sites and tourist resorts, after every two weeks when Farhan would come from Oregon where he took up a job in Intel Inc. On...

Pains and pleasures of government service

A young officer in the revenue department posed a question the other day, 'How much money does one need?' Apparently sounds naïve but this simple question adds extra meaning when it comes from someone who has the opportunity to stash...

Rogue owners summoned by MoC next Monday

The government will initiate harsh actions against the readymade garment (RMG) factory owners who are allegedly harassing and terminating labour leaders for trying to form trade unions, sources said. In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has summoned a...

Excess liquidity in banks drops by 6 per cent

The overall excess liquidity with the commercial banks decreased slightly in January in view of political stability restored in the country after a prolonged turmoil. "Excess liquidity does not necessarily mean idle money for the banks," a senior official of...

Army’s role in road projects appreciated

The Ministry of Communications has expressed satisfaction at the progress of road projects being executed under the supervision of Bangladesh Army throughout the country. The Road Division under the ministry expressed the satisfaction at a meeting on Wednesday and assured...

A praiseworthy work

The number of new books - covering a wide range of interests - is simply galore. Undoubtedly, this is a good sign in the sense that more and more books are coming out in our literary arena. This is the...

Revamping railway under a master plan

A 20-year master plan undertaken for development of the country's railway seems to have the potential to turn it into a truly public transport. Strangely Bangladesh relies heavily on road for transportation of passengers and goods across the country. This...

Own coal or imported coal?

Bangladesh's energy sector, faced with the primary fuel constraint, appears to be in a dilemma over choosing between own coal and imported coal for its medium-term energy security. The country has five discovered coalmines in greater Dinajpur and Rangpur regions. ...

Stocks close another flat session

Stocks ended another flat session Thursday with turnover decline slightly as most of the investors followed ‘wait-and-see’ strategy. The market opened with a positive note, but could not sustain, eventually ended flat into red. The prime index of the Dhaka...

DSE, CSE open positive

Share prices in both bourses – Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) – witnessed upward trend in early hours of trading on Thursday, the closing day in the week. DSEX – the prime index of the DSE...

Liquid milk prices go up

Local milk producing companies have increased prices of processed liquid milk on the plea of higher production cost at farm level, industry insiders said. The companies said cost of milk production at firm level increased significantly due to higher prices...

NBR to collect 10pc tax-at- source on mobile banking

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has urged businesses involved with mobile banking services to pay 10 per cent tax-at-source from the money earned as commissions, fees etc.   The request came as part of a guideline, issued Wednesday, on the...

RHD inks deal with consultant

A consortium comprising two South Korean firms and one from India and another from Bangladesh has been selected as a consultant for the Joydebpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga Four-Lane Project to make the 70-km road fit for the proposed SAARC and Asian highways. Under...

Taiwan voters have final say on China ties: Experts

The first government-to-government meeting between Beijing and Taipei since the brutal civil war ended in 1949 highlights China's dream of reunification -- but analysts say Taiwanese voters will ultimately set the agenda, rather than the mighty Communist Party. Tuesday's historic...

Airshow -- unassuming aircraft a drawcard at Asia\\\'s arms bazaar

The star attraction at Asia's biggest arms and aerospace bazaar is an outwardly unassuming aircraft parked in a distant corner of the tarmac, past the sleek jet fighters and menacing attack helicopters. An operational P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft is on...