Accepting facts and bracing for the hard days

The finance adviser the other day while refuting some economists' claim that the rate of pauperization has increased during the last two years has, however, admitted that the country's poverty alleviation efforts have received a severe jolt as a result...

IPO Diary

Nature of BusinessBankingSubscription OpenJuly 20, 2008Subscription CloseJuly 24, 2008For Non Resident Bangladeshi(s)July 20, 2008 to August 02, 2008Offer Price (Tk.)100.00Face Value (Tk.)100.00Market lot (Share)50Sponsors Portion (Share)11,500,000Public Offer (Share)11,500,000Total Issued Shares23,000,000Total Paid up Capital (after IPO)2,300,000,000Reason for IPO:To strengthen the capital...

Transport planning for competitiveness

Remaining successful in business or winning more market shares, essentially involves reducing the costs of doing business. The economy of a country should aim to become more and more competitive to flourish internally and especially to promote its external trade....

US labour group doubts local claim over child labour in shrimp plants

The US-labour group chief in her recent visit to Bangladesh expressed doubt over a claim on elimination of child labour in the shrimp processing plants of the country.Ellie Kiel Larson, executive director of the American labour group -- Solidarity Center...

DU budget more focused on entertainment

The allocation for entertainment in different departments of Dhaka University (DU) has been increased by more than 122 per cent in the budget for the fiscal 2008-09 compared to the previous year leaving some important sections like medical and educational...

Proposal on

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) has planned to place a proposal to the government for setting up a 'Fish Bank' aimed at development of the country's fishermen.'Establishment of a Fish Bank will certainly reduce dependence of fishermen on local moneylenders...

Reputation made into capital: Branding and CSR go hand in hand for sustainable business development

Great brands meet or exceed consumer expectations. This has always been true. But as the marketplace has gotten more sophisticated and competitive, marketers have realised that what motivates people to buy products is far more complex today. It is not...

Flow of bank credit to private sector in May up

Credit growth to the private sector recorded a 25 per cent rise in May last over that of the same period of the previous year, officials said."The credit increased during the period mainly to real sectors and used for financing...

Managers see advantages of going global

FOR Sue Lin Heng, there was one criterion that really stood out when she was looking for an executive MBA programme, the qualification for working managers. It was its location.A native of Singapore, Ms Heng, 31, had already lived on...

Power shortage frustrates investments

ECONOMIC growth is the best assurance -- notwithstanding variables like how much the growth is pro-poor or if distributive justice is attained --for a continuous process of job creation, lifting up living standards and alleviating poverty. This growth in turn...

Left to live through horrors of price rise

No one knows for sure what is the current rate of inflation, which, led by rising food and oil prices, is posing a serious threat to the economic gains achieved in recent years and the survival of a vast majority...

The business case for more sustainability

There is a green revolution under way in business. After years of scepticism, big companies are starting to see the need for change. They are acting to cut waste, cut carbon emissions, find sources of renewable energy and develop sustainable...

NBR to sit with businesses July 21 on ECR installation

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to bring some flexibility in implementation of its order on mandatory installation of electronic cash register (ECR) in 10 services sector.The NBR order is scheduled to come into effect from January 1,...

Defusing the demographic time device

Thomas Robert Malthus some two centuries back made a very practical, though gloomy, prognostication about the fate of human race. He concluded that population increases more than the means of increasing subsistence does. So it would become at a point...

Prawn culture in Teesta irrigation canal in Nilphamari begins

NILPHAMARI, July 15: District Fisheries Office of Nilphamari has undertaken a comprehensive project to cultivate lobster in Teesta irrigation canal in Nilphamari. Sources said the district fisheries office recently released 2000 fry into the canal water between the canal's Chanderhat...

news digest

Hezbollah prisoner swapJERUSALEM, Jul 15: An Israeli government spokesman says the Cabinet has overwhelming approved a prisoner swap with Hezbollah.The hotly debated deal would release a convicted Lebanese child-killer and four Hezbollah guerrillas in exchange for two missing Israeli soldiers...

New ideas must catch a customer's mood

TEN years ago, Clayton Christensen's book, The Innovator's Dilemma, was a bestseller. Christensen showed how innovation could become a form of trap. Companies invest large amounts of time and money in innovation but then lack the ability to make their...

Financial troubles seen as deepening

THE nation is broke. This perhaps succinctly describe the current economic woes of America, the largest and most vibrant economy of the world. Peter Peterson, commerce secretary under Richard Nixon is planning to spend $1.0 billion of his own money...

VGF cards for urban poor to be launched

The government is contemplating introducing Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) card for the urban poor, reeling under soaring prices of essentials, ahead of the Ramadan month.The price monitoring committee in a meeting recently asked the food and disaster management ministry to...

Freedom to be enlightened

THE only scheduled bank operating in Bangladesh which can boast about the architectural beauty and functional facilities of its own training institute is undoubtedly Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) whose sprawling training institute covers acres of prime land in Mirpur of...

Power supply and industries

POWER or electricity is counted as the life-blood of a modern economy. Economic activities, ranging from the production processes to distribution and even marketing, are dependent on steady and reliable power supply. Many factors are responsible for the current underinvestment...

corporatewatch

Dhaka Stock ExchangeThe Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has de-listed (discontinued the trading of the shares) the company following its amalgamation with the Olympic Industries Limited with effect from today (Tuesday).Monthly get-together of DSEmembers' todayThe monthly get-together (lunch) of DSE members...

Good times not around: A harsh reminder by Finance Adviser

THERE has been an uproar in the media and among some political quarters, over the reported comment by Finance and Planning Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam at a seminar in the city.The media quoted the Adviser as saying 'the times of...

Raised untaxed income ceiling boon for undisclosed money holders

People having undisclosed incomes could enjoy the benefit of the existing untaxed income limit of Tk 165,000 at the time of declaring their legally-earned money under the latest offer the government has made to this end, a senior revenue official...

Boosting trade with Nepal thru' Banglabandha remains a far cry

The government's plan to bolster trade with Nepal through a direct road link across Banglabandha land port remains a far cry due to India's reluctance to provide transit facility, said a senior official Sunday.He said both the countries need transit...

When rumours gain ground over speculation

Bugs invaded the computers belonging to a large number of brokerage houses last Wednesday, causing serious disruption in daily operation of the Dhaka Stock Exchange-DSE. There had been no transactions during the usual hours of trading-between 10am and 2pm. However,...

Foreign portfolio investors' interest in Bangladesh market growing

The foreign portfolio investors were more active in the country's stock market in the just concluded fiscal year (2007-08) than the previous fiscal with their investment rising by nearly 37 per cent.According to data available with the Dhaka Stock Exchange...

How former students can help the present ones develop confidence

CONFIDENCE is crucial for success in student life. Students receive confidence from various sources-from parents, teachers, classmates, seniors. One of the most attractive way of gaining confidence for them is interaction with the former students of the institute. The relationship...

Entire 8m RMG pieces may not be exported to India

New Delhi's offer to import eight million pieces of garments from Bangladesh, aimed at reducing the trade deficit, may not be completely executed as prices being offered by many Indian buyers are quite low, sector insiders said Saturday.Their observation came...

Soaring energy costs and options for the economy

THE world might have to live with the higher cost of fuel oil for a longer time than anticipated, prompted by escalating demand for oil rather than lapses on the part of producers to pump out more oil. Even at...