UCB HOSTS 506TH MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

United Commercial Bank (UCB) hosted its 506th meeting of the board of directors on Tuesday at the corporate office of the bank. UCB Chairman Sharif Zahir presided over the meeting. Among others, Managing Director & CEO Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid; the...

MUTUAL TRUST BANK SIGNS MOU WITH TERRAPAY FOR STUDENT FILE SERVICES

Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) and Terra Payment Services (UK) Limited (TerraPay) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide Student File Services to students aspiring to study abroad, making their higher study-related payments more convenient. The MoU exchange...

IFAD urges more rural investment in developing countries

As the world grows increasingly fragmented and the future uncertain, global leaders and financiers at the 48th Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have emphasised the strategic importance of investing in rural areas of developing countries...

Renata ships Cabergoline to UK for first time

Renata exported the first consignment of Cabergoline 0.5mg tablets to the UK market, having received approval four months ago.This followed the launch of the generic drug in Australia in October last year, "highlighting the company's growing global presence," said the...

Lub-rref returns to profit in Q2 on lower costs

Lubricant oil blender Lub-rref (Bangladesh) returned to profit in its second quarter of FY25 after incurring a loss in the first quarter. However, its profit escalated 92 per cent year-on-year in the October-December quarter of FY25 while revenue plunged 4.47...

Stocks up for 2nd week with hopes high after monetary policy

Stocks stayed upbeat for two straight weeks, with the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) crossing 5,200 on Thursday after three weeks amid renewed optimism.As the macroeconomic front improved and the central bank kept the policy rate unchanged...

Fakhruddin Ahmed: a legendary runner from yesteryear

Man can only sail through life by riding the chariot of time, but he leaves behind golden memories of the past. This is the natural course for mankind. Despite that, man looks back at bygone times – in search of...

Dholaikhal, the machine hub

Dholaikhal is one of Dhaka's most significant commercial and historical areas. Over time, it has transformed from a river into an industrial hub. This area is a major centre for manufacturing, renowned for producing industrial equipment, machinery, and car parts....

Improving train service

As one of the country's primary modes of transportation, trains have long earned the trust of the general public. However, in recent times, frequent schedule disruptions, indefinite service suspensions, a shortage of trains, and declining service quality have made train...

AI agents in the workplace

Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents are revolutionising the workplace by automating tasks, analysing vast amounts of data, and making intelligent decisions. Powered by machine learning and natural language processing, AI systems like ChatGPT enhance workplace communication, while autonomous robots improve efficiency...

Will counter-based bus operation fail again?

The authorities concerned, in partnership with private transport operators, recently launched counter-based ticket-selling bus service on a few routes in Dhaka city to provide commuters a safer and more comfortable experience by maintaining scheduled operations and preventing overcrowding and fare...

Bangladesh's corruption rank is unsurprising

The common people in Bangladesh cannot help feeling unease at the yearly 'sobriquet' of one of the top corrupt countries in the world that hangs around its neck like the Ancient Mariner's dead albatross, courtesy of the Berlin-based Transparent International...

Diversification can meet post-LDC challenges

The government's initiative to speed up export diversification in preparation for post-LDC challenges is a complex task requiring both persistent efforts and innovative approaches. A FE report says the relevant authorities are developing a strategy to maintain the competitiveness of...

Strengthening financial literacy in Bangladesh

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively manage personal financial behaviour. It encompasses knowledge about budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, and financial planning for the future of an individual. A financially literate person is able to make informed and...

Walton's free float surges to 30pc: What does it mean to investors?

Free float of Walton Hi-Tech Industries was 1.49 per cent even six months back. Then by January this year, the number of publicly tradable shares jumped to more than 30 per cent. The free float increased so quickly, as six...

There was traffic congestion in various parts of the city

There was traffic congestion in various parts of the city, causing immense suffering for commuters. The photo was taken from the Shaheed Jahangir Gate area on Wednesday evening. — FE Photo by Asad-Uz-Zaman

This govt backed by legal means, people's will: HC

The High Court has said that the interim government, led by Noble laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, is backed by legal instrument as well as by the will of the people of Bangladesh."It's pertinent to mention that the President of...

Laid-off Beximco workers to get due wages by Feb

The government will pay all the due wages of over 27,000 laid-off workers of Beximco Group by this month (February), said Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain on Wednesday."We want to clear the dues before Ramadan...

Danish recipe for BD labour market

Bangladesh should organise its labour market, establish fair wages, ensure employment and social protection, and upskill the unskilled workers for successful reforms in its labour market.The suggestions came at a recent virtual view-exchange meeting of the Labour Reform Commission with...

Ramadan price hike feared as unloading at Ctg port delayed

CHATTOGRAM, Feb 12: A total of 269 lighterage ships carrying thousands of tonnes of imported goods have been floating in the sea and rivers in different parts of the country for several weeks, creating a crisis of such vessels at...

Consumers grappling with VAT overdose amid high inflation

Consumers are struggling with rising taxes amid higher inflation, experts observed on Wednesday, criticising overuse of the indirect taxation, particularly VAT, which is disproportionately affecting lower- and middle-income groups.Besides, weak revenue collection raised concerns among the economists and business leaders...

Prayer Timings (2025-02-13)

Nagad admin attacked 'with hammers'

Muhammad Badiuzzaman Didar, the administrator of the mobile financial service provider Nagad, on Wednesday came under attack on Road Number 12 in the capital's Banani.The incident took place at about 4:30 pm after he said to the media that preliminary...

Tk 51.09b shares of S Alam, family

A Dhaka court Wednesday ordered freeze on over 4.37 billion shares of 42 companies, worth Tk 51.09 billion, owned by beleaguered S Alam Group chairman Mohammad Saiful Alam and his family members. Judge of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court...

Govt cuts target of borrowing from banks

The government has slashed its bank borrowing target by 28 per cent, or Tk 385 billion, for this fiscal year, due to lower expenditures and slower implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP).Under the revised target, the government will borrow...

Faruque Ahmed made MD of DMTCL

Faruque Ahmed, a Bangladeshi expatriate having experiences to work on different metro rail projects worldwide, has been selected as the managing director of the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).Sources said a six-member committee, headed by Bangladesh University of Engineering...

Planning commission under pressure to green-light MRT-5 south project

The planning commission is under pressure to approve the MRT-5 southern line project, although it was sent back more than a month ago for bloated costs and having less priority than another MRT line, officials said on Wednesday.The commission is...

Fitch sceptical of govt projections

Global rating-agency Fitch paints a downbeat outlook for Bangladesh economy on several grounds that include political unrest surrounding polls. Fitch Solutions in its latest appraisal report forecasts headline inflation to average 8.5 per cent and intends to revise down its...

'Horrific', 'unbelievable', says Dr Yunus

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has described the secret torture cells (known as Aynaghar) as horrific after visiting three of those, reports UNB."If I want to narrate it can be said that it is a horrific scene! Everything that happened...

Hasina, minions blamed for serious HR violations

Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her minions in government, security services and her Awami League party systematically engaged in serious human-rights violations during last year's student-led protests, according to UN findings. A 105-page report prepared by the fact-finding...