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...

Rural land market

Rural land market has assumed an important area of investigation. The general assumption is that the poor segment of society continues to sell land to the rich in the wake of financial crisis especially to meet food requirements or pay...

Cutting interest rate to reduce interest spread: Is it reasonable?

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) in a statement issued on January 28, 2014 said: "Bangladesh Bank should take effective steps in achieving target of private sector credit growth through reducing the spread of interest rate of the...

Potato prices slump: The way out

Potatoes are selling for about Tk 2.0 per kg (kilogram) at the level of the growers. In the capital, the same potatoes are being sold at Tk 10/15 per kg. Producers are upset as they are not in a position...

No headway in govt initiative

There is no headway in the government's initiative to devise an automobile policy. Even the concerned officials say, 'we have no idea.' An official in the ministry of industries said last year a final automobile policy draft was agreed upon...

Stocks see upward trend at opening

The prices of most of the stocks on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed upward trend in early hours of trading Wednesday, the fourth trading sessions of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the...

A fait accompli for power subscribers?

Yet another hike in tariff awaits the poor power subscribers. The power division has already advised the power distribution companies to submit their respective proposals on the revised power tariff to the power and energy sector regulator -- the Bangladesh...

SoCBs to put idle funds in government bonds

Concerned over the excess liquidity of state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs) the government is going to ask them to invest the idle money in treasury bonds, sources have said. "The SoCBs have a good volume of excess liquidity. If the money...

UGC for bringing all varsities under high speed internet connectivity

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to include all the public and private universities in the high speed internet connectivity programme to support the country's tertiary level schooling, sources said. According to them, the universities' regulator already drew out...

Appellate Division stays HC order

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed a High Court (HC) order that earlier restricted the Mercantile Bank's sponsor-shareholders, having less than 2.0 per cent shares, to participate in the bank's affairs and perform as directors. The five-member...

Egypt on the verge of electing an army-backed president

Egyptian strongman Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is likely to become the next president of the country even though he has not officially announced his candidature for the top position. Meanwhile, veteran left politician Hamdeen Sabahi, the founder of Popular...

Basel III: Challenges for the banking sector

Bangladesh has started preparations to implement the Basel-III framework for bank companies from 2014 in line with the global standard. The banking regulation on capital requirements known as Basel III will have a big effect on the world's financial systems...

Turnover tumbles further

Stocks closed lower for the third running session on Tuesday with turnover dipped below Tk 5.0 billion-mark after five weeks as investors followed ‘wait-and-see’ strategy amid captious trading. The market opened with a negative trend and the downtrend continued till...

Stocks see down-trend at opening

The prices of most of the stocks on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed downward trend in early hours of trading Tuesday amid minor see-saw. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE went down by...

Export orders at 13th DITF decline by 50pc

Export orders at the 13th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2014 declined by nearly 50 per cent mainly due to fewer presence of foreign buyers after a prolonged political turmoil, fair organisers said. Participants at the DITF received only Tk...

Medium-term economic outlook favourable : BB

Bangladesh's medium-term economic outlook is favourable in the wake of its growing working age population and a sustain demand of products in the global market, the central bank said. "The outlook for the Bangladesh economy is favourable over the medium...

Row between NBR, cell phone operators remains unresolved

The row between taxmen and cell phone operators over payment of SIM replacement tax still remains unresolved as both the parties are yet to reach a consensus on the issue even after three months of negotiation, sources said. Taxmen wrapped...

GP recommends 50pc final cash dividend

Grameenphone (GP) board of directors recommended 50 per cent final cash dividend for its shareholders for the year 2013. The recommended 50 per cent cash dividend excludes 90 per cent interim cash dividend that has already been paid for the...

Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah and the University of Dhaka

Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah (1873-1965) was the pride of the Muslims in Bengal and one of the most enlightened personalities of his time as a renowned academician and social reformer, a reputed philanthropist, a legendary literary figure and Sufi thinker. He...

Time to establish a commodity exchange

Prices are determined by the market forces-demand and supply. It is said in jest that a parrot can be turned into an economist by teaching it just two words-demand and supply. This saying contains a great deal of truth. If...

Bumper potato harvest a blessing

Recently an article in the FE (05 Feb 2014) about bumper potato harvest in Bangladesh described the plight of the poor farmers due to the plentiful yield. The bumper harvest has pushed down the prices so low that the poor...

RMG: Delegation of authority for streamlining factory management

Workers think that job is a favour from their owners. Lack of nutritious food, sufficient rest, hygienic residence, etc. makes the workers socially, physically and mentally weak. Working extra time and seven days a week create a distance between them...

Bangladesh at a crossroads

The January 05 elections are being described by the ruling Awami League (AL) like business as usual. They are stating that the elections have been held legally and it is bad luck for the opposition that they did not join...

BADC asks farmers to store potatoes at their homes

Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has directed the farmers to store their harvested potatoes at their own homes for several weeks to avert the current price fall. As per estimate of the BADC, production cost of per kilogramme (kg) potato...