Growth of economic units slows amid capital shortages

The growth in the number of economic units in Bangladesh has slowed over the past decade, primarily due to capital shortages among rural entrepreneurs, according to the latest Economic Census of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Accounts, assets of wilful defaulters must be seized: CPD

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has called for closing the accounts of wilful defaulters and holding three former governors accountable for their roles in the beleaguered banking sector.

Fuel price can be cut by Tk 15 a litre: CPD

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) yesterday said the government could reduce fuel prices by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per litre by using a market-based pricing model.

Govt plans smart cards for farmers

The government is formulating a policy with the aim of distributing smart cards among farmers to ensure the delivery of subsidies and other government support, such as that for coping with natural disasters.

Alibaba releases AI model it says surpasses DeepSeek

Chinese tech company Alibaba on Wednesday released a new version of its Qwen 2.5 artificial intelligence model that it claimed surpassed the highly-acclaimed DeepSeek-V3.

Saint Martin’s businesses seek shorter travel ban

All tourist vessels to Saint Martin’s island will cease operations from the start of February, with travel to the country’s only coral island prohibited from February to October as per government directives.

India’s economy faces slowing growth ahead of new fiscal year

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may seek to arrest slowing economic growth in the world’s fifth-largest economy and prepare for an uncertain year of global trade when his government presents the federal budget on February 1.

Titas Gas suffers Tk 523cr loss in Q2

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned gas distributor, reported a significant loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2024-25, driven by a sharp increase in system losses.

Rupee weakens

The Indian rupee weakened on Wednesday on the back of strong dollar bids related to importers’ month-end payments, while a decline in the cost of hedging against the currency’s decline added to the persistent headwinds troubling the currency.

Economy

Economy

Market-based pricing can cut fuel prices by Tk 10-15 a litre: CPD

The existing automatic pricing formula does not reflect global markets, the think-tank says

1w ago

Beximco reports sharp decline in Q2 earnings despite strong cash flow

Beximco, one of Bangladesh’s leading conglomerates, reported a substantial decline in net earnings for the second quarter of the fiscal year, primarily due to a production shutdown caused by the unavailability of banking facilities..Despite this setback, the company managed to maintain a s

1w ago

Economic Census 2024 / Job opportunities shrink in rural areas

A lack of growth in non-farm activities is to blame for the shrink in job opportunities

1w ago

Titas Gas suffers Tk 523cr rout in Q2 as system loss mounts  

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned gas distributor, reported a significant loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2024-25, driven by a sharp increase in system loss.

1w ago

CPD blames high prices on govt failure to curb extortion, hoarding

“Steps taken by the government so far failed to bring down prices of essential commodities,” said CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun

1w ago

Dhaka stocks up slightly in early trade

DSEX gained 1.77 points as of 11:36 am  

1w ago

Shares of Beximco Pharma, Shinepukur fall after govt announces sale

Beximco Pharma posts 28% profit growth in Q2 

1w ago

Top UAE companies to invest in Bangladesh

Two major companies from the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Masdar, have unveiled plans to invest in Bangladesh’s port development, management, and logistics, as well as the renewable energy sector.

1w ago
Global Economy

Global Economy

DeepSeek offers no new answers to China’s AI bind

DeepSeek has triggered a dramatic rethink on artificial intelligence spending around the world, except perhaps in China. The startup’s impressive low-cost model showcases the country’s innovation prowess.

1w ago

Trump warns of ‘wake-up call’ as low-cost Chinese AI jolts sector

Fears of upheaval in the AI gold rush rocked Wall Street on Monday following the emergence of a popular ChatGPT-like model from China, with US President Donald Trump saying it was a “wake-up call” for Silicon Valley.

1w ago

Nvidia loses $600b in value amid rout in tech stocks

US chip-maker Nvidia led a rout in tech stocks Monday after the emergence of a low-cost Chinese generative AI model that could threaten American dominance in the fast-growing industry.

1w ago

Trump says Microsoft in discussions to acquire TikTok

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Microsoft is in talks to acquire TikTok, while the app’s future in the country faces uncertainty.

1w ago

Nvidia loses nearly $600 billion in value as DeepSeek jolts tech shares

Shares in Nvidia, whose semiconductors power the AI industry, fell nearly 17 percent on Wall Street, erasing nearly $600 billion of its market value.

2w ago

Increasing efficiency of NBR essential for business growth

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday said that increasing the efficiency of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is essential for the growth of trade and commerce in the country.

2w ago

Weak yuan, Trump tariff threats confound Beijing’s economic puzzle

Higher US tariffs under President Donald Trump could accelerate a slump in the value of China’s currency, complicating recent efforts by Beijing to kickstart a rebound in its struggling economy, analysts warn.

2w ago

Don’t hike gas price further: factory owners

Four associations, including BGMEA, sent joint letter to the power adviser

2w ago
Organisation News

Organisation News

AkijBashir Group opens new ‘Selections’ showroom in Tangail

Selections, the premium brand emporium of AkijBashir Group, recently launched a new showroom on Keya Hall Road in Tangail..The showroom offers an extensive range of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, bathware, tableware, boards, and doors for the customers..Mohammad Khorshed Alam, chief op

2w ago

DIU's 8th Convocation held

Prof M Aminul Islam, special assistant to the chief adviser (status of state minister), Ministry of Education, was present as chief guest

2w ago

Mahtab Uddin, Hasnain Thoufiq made president, secretary of ICMAB

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed has been elected president of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) for a one-year term..Ahmed is the founder of BuildCon Consultancies Limited and BuildNations Limited, according to a press release..He previously served as managing

2w ago

SMC celebrates 50 years of operations in health sector

Social Marketing Company (SMC), a not-for-profit organisation, has completed 50 years of remarkable operations in the health sector of Bangladesh. Over the past five decades, the company has achieved significant milestones by marketing innovative products and delivering essential healthcare serv

2w ago

FBCCI seminar focuses on energy security and development in Bangladesh

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) recently organised a seminar titled “Power and Energy Scenario in Bangladesh: Ensuring Energy Security for Development” at its office in the capital’s Motijheel.

2w ago

Abul Kasem Khan made chairperson of BUILD

Abul Kasem Khan has been appointed as the chairperson of the Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) for a one-year term (2025) at the 36th trustee board meeting of the platform..Khan is a trustee board member of BUILD, nominated from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCC

2w ago

RANGS eMART launches LG OLED C4 series television

LG Electronics launched the LG OLED C4 series television at a ceremony at the Rangs e-Mart showroom in the capital’s Gulshan on Saturday..Popular singer Tahsan Khan inaugurated the new model of the C4 series television, according to a press release..From now on, the 55-inch, 65-inch,

2w ago

IDLC Finance unveils Shariah-compliant financing window ‘IDLC Islamic’

IDLC Finance PLC recently launched the Shariah-compliant financing window, named “IDLC Islamic,” at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka..Md Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, inaugurated the new window as the chief guest, said a press release..The event featured

2w ago
Business Multimedia

Business Multimedia

Food prices stubbornly high despite govt measures

When prices of widely consumed staples like potatoes, edible oil, sugar or onions spike and remain inflated for extended periods, it understandably hits the poor and low-income people where it hurts the most: in their wallet.

Remittance rises 21% in October

Migrant Bangladeshis sent home $2.39 billion in October

Potato price shoots up

The price of potatoes has begun an upward climb in the market

92 thousand crores or more siphoned out in 15 years?

Based on the compilation of media reports on bank scams between 2008 and 2023, CPD said as much as 92 thousand crores of taka have been siphoned out of the banking sector in the last fifteen years

Is Bangladesh going towards a deep economic crisis?

How can Bangladesh avoid the economic crisis to deepen further?

Alibaba releases AI model it says surpasses DeepSeek

Chinese tech company Alibaba on Wednesday released a new version of its Qwen 2.5 artificial intelligence model that it claimed surpassed the highly-acclaimed DeepSeek-V3.

1w ago

Govt plans smart cards for farmers

The government is formulating a policy with the aim of distributing smart cards among farmers to ensure the delivery of subsidies and other government support, such as that for coping with natural disasters.

1w ago

Fuel price can be cut by Tk 15 a litre: CPD

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) yesterday said the government could reduce fuel prices by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per litre by using a market-based pricing model.

1w ago

Accounts, assets of wilful defaulters must be seized: CPD

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has called for closing the accounts of wilful defaulters and holding three former governors accountable for their roles in the beleaguered banking sector.

1w ago

Growth of economic units slows amid capital shortages

The growth in the number of economic units in Bangladesh has slowed over the past decade, primarily due to capital shortages among rural entrepreneurs, according to the latest Economic Census of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

1w ago

Rupee weakens

The Indian rupee weakened on Wednesday on the back of strong dollar bids related to importers’ month-end payments, while a decline in the cost of hedging against the currency’s decline added to the persistent headwinds troubling the currency.

1w ago

Titas Gas suffers Tk 523cr loss in Q2

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned gas distributor, reported a significant loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2024-25, driven by a sharp increase in system losses.

1w ago

India’s economy faces slowing growth ahead of new fiscal year

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may seek to arrest slowing economic growth in the world’s fifth-largest economy and prepare for an uncertain year of global trade when his government presents the federal budget on February 1.

1w ago

Saint Martin’s businesses seek shorter travel ban

All tourist vessels to Saint Martin’s island will cease operations from the start of February, with travel to the country’s only coral island prohibited from February to October as per government directives.

1w ago

BRAC Bank secures B+ credit rating from S&P

BRAC Bank has secured a ‘B+’ credit rating with a stable outlook, as affirmed by the world’s leading credit rating agency, S&P Global Ratings..Despite challenges in the banking sector, the US-based credit rating agency has expressed confidence in BRAC Bank, maintaining a solid ‘B+’ rating

1w ago