Jagaran Chakma

The country’s merchandised shipments of processed foods and agricultural products to Gulf nations are facing a serious shock from the war in the Middle East, with freight charges soaring fourfold and new orders plunging.

Amid long queues at refuelling stations, trucks carrying perishable vegetables, food items and factory raw materials are charging at least Tk 5,000 more than pre-war rates per trip to Dhaka from different parts of the country.

Bangladesh will import two liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes from the spot market at prices lower than its recent purchases, as global fuel rates ease amid diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the US-Israel war on Iran.

Runner Group’s subsidiary, Runner Automobiles PLC, is set to assemble electric vehicles (EVs) of Chinese automaker BYD in Bangladesh, marking a significant step forward for the country’s automobile industry.

Motorcycle sales ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr initially surged but have recently slowed as uncertainty in global energy markets -- triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran escalating -- has raised concerns over fuel availability and costs, dampening consumer enthusiasm.

Bangladeshi cement manufacturers have dismissed claims by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) last week over alleged industry overcapacity, insisting that the sector’s production reflects growing domestic demand driven by a decade of major infrastructure projects and the needs of a rapidly expanding economy.

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed between Bangladesh and Japan on February 6, in Tokyo is poised to transform the trajectory of bilateral trade between the two countries, said Tareq Rafi Bhuiyan (Jun), president of the Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI).

Across the three hill districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari, women are the visible driving force of local commerce

Analysts caution that the move sends troubling signals about institutional stability

Surging home loan interest rates have brought Bangladesh’s mid-segment housing market to a near standstill in 2025, squeezing salaried buyers who depend heavily on bank financing and sharply raising monthly instalments beyond affordability.

Industry leaders say reciprocal trade agreement may lose footing after top US court decision unsettles tariff regime

Bangladesh should reassess its recently signed reciprocal trade deal with the United States

In officialdom, a microphone malfunction is usually seen as a sign of disorder. Yet in April 2025, at the Hotel InterContinental, Ashik Chowdhury transformed this familiar frustration into a piece of calculated theatre.

Although the BNP swept to a landslide victory in the February 12 national election, business leaders say the new government will inherit an economy that allows little time for celebration.

On the morning of January 29th, before the sun had fully risen over Rajshahi, food vendors began arriving at a local Madrasa field.

The country’s plastic industry, long overshadowed by garments, is steadily expanding as manufacturers adopt new technologies, increase recycling, and diversify exports beyond traditional markets.

Business confidence in Bangladesh is at a low point as the country navigates economic challenges and political uncertainty, according to Kamran T Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

Political parties need to prioritise law and order, macroeconomic stability, and ease of doing business in their election manifestos, say business leaders and trade bodies.

The project, approved in 2008, was meant to anchor the industry’s next phase of growth. Nearly two decades later, the site remains largely idle

As temperatures fall and winter cold lingers longer than usual, geysers are once again emerging as a seasonal essential, with demand rising sharply across urban and semi-urban areas of Bangladesh.