NCTB launches \\\'Class Room Tryout Programme\\\'

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has launched 'Class Room Tryout Programme' across the country to justify utility of the current textbook syllabus, sources at the board said. They said that the curriculum board has already formed 70 high-powered...

Market share of local woven fabrics in RMG export stagnating

The market share of local woven fabrics in RMG export is stagnating for the last three years despite rising demand every year, data shows. Though the mills have expanded their production capacity in line with export growth but their market...

BD cargo flights linking overseas nations go up, prompting air deals

Cargo flight operations from Bangladesh increased significantly in the recent years, leading to the country's signing of bilateral air agreements with at least seven European and Asian destinations alone in 2013, sources said. Last year, Bangladesh signed air agreements and...

Women in tourism sector and Bangladesh scenario

Tourism is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing industries. In many countries it acts as an engine for development through foreign exchange earnings and creation of direct and indirect employment for men and women. Tourism contributes 5.0 per cent...

Violence on Rajshahi University campus

Rajshahi has one of the most famous universities in the country. But it is sad that the university witnessed several deadly clashes triggered mainly by the pro- Awami League student wing, Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) in recent time. The bloody...

Spectre of cancer scourge

The warning is grim, to say the least. Cancer will see a 70 per cent increase in incidence worldwide from 14 million patients in 2012 to 24 million in 2035. This alarm bell has been sounded by none other than...

Stocks, turnover up on DSE, CSE

Stocks ended higher on Thursday after two sessions’ marginal correction with improved turnover value as investors went for buying spree again amid optimism. The market opened with a positive note and the upward trend continued till the closure of the...

Stocks see sharp rise 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 Thursday, the last trading day of the week. DSEX, the prime index of the...

MFIs asked not to write off loans before 2-yr wait

The microcredit regulator has directed micro-finance institutions (MFIs) to wait two years before writing off a classified loan. The Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) recently issued a uniform guideline on writing off classified loans to remove confusion in this regard, said...

Rampant import of raw rubber threatens local production

3500 tonnes of locally produced raw rubber worth Tk 630 million has long been lying unsold, officials close to the sector said. Besides, the domestic rubber industry is lately facing a threat due to the rampant import of raw rubber...

Govt revenue from DSE marks 10pc rise

The government's revenue earnings from the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) rose 10 per cent in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY), compared to the same period of last FY as the trading volume increased. The government...

Climate displacement and durable solutions

Bangladesh ranked fifth among 10 countries most vulnerable to the climate change-induced natural disasters in the last two decades from 1993 to 2012, according to a report. During the period, Bangladesh suffered damages worth US$ 1,832.70 million, caused by 242...

Stocks close flat amid volatility

Stocks closed flat Wednesday after volatile trading throughout the session with turnover decline further as investors witnessed a cautious trading amid profit booking tendency. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX --- went up slightly by...

Stocks close flat amid volatility

Stocks closed flat Wednesday after volatile trading throughout the session with turnover decline further as investors witnessed a cautious trading amid profit booking tendency. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX --- went up slightly by...

Imports up by 11.59pc in H1

The country's overall imports grew by 11.59 per cent in the first half (H1) of the current fiscal year (FY), 2013-`14, despite political uncertainty, officials said Tuesday. "The overall imports increased in the first six months of FY `14 mainly...

When delays are deliberate

The problem of cost escalation in relation to public sector projects, particularly the major ones, has become a chronic one and the country's economy has been paying too heavy a price on this account. For instance, according to a report...

Tax on profits of wage earners\\\' bonds bought before July 2011 exempted

Investors will enjoy tax exemption on profits from wage-earners' development bonds purchased before July 2011, the revenue board said Tuesday. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued the directive to remove confusion regarding tax exemption facility for investors in wage...

MoS for time-bound plan for 3rd seaport at Payra in Patuakhali

Nearly two and half months after the inauguration, the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) has asked the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to prepare a time-bound plan to make the country's third seaport operational, sources said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November...

One House One Farm project to reach 1.2m households by June

The number of households under the 'Ekti Bari Ekti Khamar' (One House One Farm) project is expected to cross 1.2 million across the country by this June, where investment would reach around Tk 15 billion, officials said. Presently, the number...

RMG buyers return with bigger import orders

Manufacturers of readymade garments (RMG) have expressed their optimism to achieve their export growth target in the coming months, thanks to improved working conditions and stable political situation, industry insiders said.   They said many international buyers are now coming back...

Washington climate conference: Call to Obama to lead from the front

The three-day Climate Solutions Conference held in Washington DC from January 28-30 called for urgent global actions to help resolve climate crisis. The conference, joined by over 2,000 scientists, academics, climate practitioners and policymakers, was opened by former US energy...

Good politics may lead to a better economy

Two vital questions confront Bangladesh in the aftermath of the January 05 national elections. Will there be another election within a short period? The other question is: what will be the impact on our economic stability and development if such...

Stocks close red after four sessions

Stocks closed into the red after four sessions' gaining streak Tuesday with turnover dropped slightly as investors booked marginal profit from their previous purchase. The prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) --- DSEX---- went down by 16.96 points...

Stocks open with positive trend

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 Tuesday. DSEX, the prime index of the DSE went up by 30.58 points or...

Wholesale medicine business shrinking

Medicine manufacturers' direct market penetration has reduced the size of wholesale medicine business by 75 per cent over the last decade, circles concerned have claimed. "Many wholesale medicine shops have shut down their business for want of customers -- retail...

Vat revenue well below target in HI of FY \\\'14

Value Added Tax (VAT) collection from large companies posted a sluggish growth in the first half of the current fiscal year, primarily because of volatile political situation. The Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU) under VAT wing of the National Board of...

BSEC raises vigilance to foil manipulation

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has intensified its vigilance over the capital market activities in a bid to curb the possibility of manipulation by any quarter, officials said. The securities regulator has taken the move, so that the...

Shariah-based financial services allure banks

Robust demand for Shariah-based financial services is prompting a section of the conventional banks to convert their business model into wholly Shariah-based ones in Bangladesh, according to the sector insiders. Some of the interested conventional banks have already applied to...

Foreign net investment jumps 328pc in January on DSE

Foreign net investments in the Dhaka bourse increased 328 cent in January 2014, compared to a month ago, as foreign fund mangers now consider the market lucrative for long-term investment due to low prices of fundamentally strong stocks. Foreign investors...

New regime for capital adequacy, liquidity and stability

After finding numerous weaknesses in the global regulatory framework and in banks' risk management practices, the regulatory authorities have focused on streamlining the global capital and liquidity rules (Basel III) with a view to improving and strengthening the banking sector's...