Govt forms advisory panel with representatives from trade bodies

The government has formed an advisory committee with the representation of different trade bodies to promote the country's businesses. The 25- member committee in the private sector will give suggestions to the commerce minister for promoting country's trade, commerce and...

CKD system could boost light engineering sector

Sourcing of components from local market by the automobile assembling sector might spur growth of the light engineering industry through adding to the products' more domestic value, sources said. As per the existing rules, with the complete knocked down (CKD)...

Women entrepreneurs\\\' access to SME loan remains insignificant

Access of women entrepreneurs to credit facility under the small and medium enterprise (SME) has been showing an upward trend in recent years though their share in the total credit portfolio still remains very insignificant. Total SME loan disbursement for...

Women empowerment leads to holistic development of society

In the poverty-stricken families in developing countries girls are considered as economic predicament. That attitude has resulted in the widespread neglect to baby girls in Africa, Asia and South America. In many communities, baby girls are breastfed for a shorter...

Online trip to an oasis of knowledge

There are ways in which retired people can find a sense of purpose in their retirement years, while adapting to the stressful events prompted by changes in their social roles and status, and eventually to physical illness and disability. All...

Curbing price spiral

Bangladesh follows market economy. Under this system, the decisions on investment, production, distribution and consumption are supposed to be based on supply and demand. The prices of goods and services are expected to be determined based on the demand and...

Improving livelihoods in rural areas

What is livelihood? "A livelihood comprises capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities required for a means of living. A livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and maintain or...

Kiev seeks urgent Western assistance

The new pro-West government of Ukraine has sought urgent help from the United States and the European allies as Russian president Vladimir Putin is talking tough on Crimea, a part of Ukraine that seems moving fast for separation from the...

Developing economic zones

Developing infrastructures in specific geographic areas for promotion of industries has been quite an old strategy in Bangladesh. Following this policy certain areas in and around metropolitan cities had been designated as industrial areas in the past. These were actually...

DSE sheds 12 points

Stocks slipped into the red Wednesday, a day after positive trend amid choppy trading throughout the session as investors remained indecisive. The market saw volatile trading at opening oscillated positive and negative territory several times, eventually landed into the red...

Stocks positive amid volatility

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hours of trading Wednesday amid modest see-saw. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE went up by 15.10 points or 0.32 per cent to...

Locking horns over RADP

Notwithstanding the poor rate of implementation of development projects by various government agencies and inadequate domestic resource mobilisation, the ministry of finance (MoF) and the planning commission (PC) have locked their horns over the issue of downsizing the annual development...

Firms’ multitasking in IPOs leads to conflict of interest

Experts and the country's premier bourse see a conflict of interest, as some particular firms play more than one role in the whole process of initial public offering (IPO) of a company. Experts and officials at the Dhaka Stock Exchange...

Results of 3 different surveys vary widely

A government survey has found little progress on safety-related compliance issues in the RMG (ready-made garment) sector, sources said. The ministry of labour and employment (MoLE) surveyed 567 RMG factories during the October-December period last year to know the progresses...

Women empowerment for development and poverty reduction

Gender is a common term whereas gender discrimination is meant only for women. They are the only victims of gender discrimination and it is pervasive in Asia. Gender discrimination is not biologically determined; it is determined by society. This discrimination...

Ukrainian crisis: European leaders show their weakness

The European Union, at the forefront of the hostilities between Russia and the West, is in a bind. It has belatedly adopted Ukraine as one of its own. Yet the EU economy is so frail,  thanks to its beggar-thy-neighbour economic...

Bangladeshi agro-processed food has good prospect abroad

PRAN is a food and beverages brand.  It started its operation in 1981 as a processor of fruits and vegetables in Bangladesh. Over the years, the company has not only grown in stature but also contributed significantly to the overall...

DSE turnover dips to Tk 3.36b

Stocks returned to the positive Tuesday amid choppy trading with turnover came down below Tk 4.0 billion mark once again as investors remained cautious. The market saw fluctuation in first part of the trading session, but rest of the session...

Stocks see positive trend amid choppy trading

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Tuesday amid see-saw. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by 5.33 points or 0.11 per cent to...

NBR allows 15pc depreciation in used car import

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has offered tax benefits for the reconditioned car importers by allowing them to enjoy 15 per cent deprecation in import of six months to one-year-old cars. There was no deprecation facility for the one-year-old...

Tk 81b allocation likely for Padma Bridge next fiscal

The government is considering allocation of around Tk 81 billion for its fast-track Padma Bridge project in the next budget, though nearly two-thirds of the fund allocated for the purpose in the current fiscal year (FY) remains unspent. Officials said,...

BB to introduce Tk 2.0b refinance scheme

The central bank is going to introduce a Tk 2.0 billion refinance scheme aiming to revive the country's jute sector through ensuring fair price at the farmers' level, official said. A meeting will be held today (Tuesday) in the conference...

Domestic software makers edging out foreign cos

Locally developed software is now replacing imported ones alongside their successful outbound activities mainly due to its world class quality and lower costs, industry insiders said. Local information technology (IT) and software service providers said they are helping Bangladesh save...

Making banks reliable and trustworthy

Banks have to make decisions about the amount of capital they need to hold mainly for three reasons. Firstly, capital helps prevent a crash, a situation in which the bank cannot meet its obligations to pay its depositors and other...

Illegal foreign workers

The State Minister for Labour and Employment told the parliament the other day that as many as 12,183 foreigners are working in the country. The Special Branch (SB) reported 400,000 to be the number and most of them working without...

Foreign borrowings: Prudent approach

An investor needs money to invest, which may not always come from own funds, requiring the investor to resort to credit from different sources. Commercial banks by far are the main source of credit for investors. About 40 per cent...

Teesta and LBA now out of Bangladesh\\\'s orbit

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has finally communicated to his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Myanmar the bad news that the Congress government would be unable to deliver the Teesta and the Land...

What role can the AAP play in Indian polls?

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made news in India and beyond by going to power in important Delhi state in India within a year of its debut and caused equal sensation when it chose to quit the government voluntarily as...

Stocks down for second day

Stocks closed lower for the second running session Monday amid thin market participation as most of the investors remained cautious. The market opened with positive note like previous session, but could not sustain. At the end of the session, the...

DSE, CSE open positive

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) saw positive trend in early hours of trading on Monday, the second trading session of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, went up by 12.10 points...