Drug exporters concerned over Trump’s 200% tariff plan
Uncertainty looms over Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports to the US market, as President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent.
9 July 2025, 18:00 PM
Motorcycle demand picks up speed after three-year slump
Motorcycle sales are showing signs of recovery after a slow patch of nearly three years, due mainly to easing consumer prices, lower registration costs, and aggressive marketing by manufacturers.
8 July 2025, 18:00 PM
High interest rates threaten SME jobs, stability
Banks charge SMEs interest rates ranging between 13 and 15 percent, among the highest across all sectors except services.
2 July 2025, 18:00 PM
Home appliances to cost more as VAT relief ends
Consumers are likely to pay more for a range of home appliances, from rice cookers and clothing irons to air conditioners (ACs), as the government phases out value-added tax (VAT) exemptions on locally manufactured electronics.
4 June 2025, 18:00 PM
No clear roadmap for investment
The budget for FY26 has drawn strong criticism from business leaders who say it lacks a clear roadmap for improving the investment climate, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and implementing overdue reforms in the banking sector.
2 June 2025, 18:00 PM
Cancer drugs, insulin to get cheaper as NBR plans tax cuts
The government is going to expand import duty exemptions on pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment, with 79 new items expected to be added to the duty-free list in the upcoming national budget.
29 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Tanners may get slight tariff relief on chemicals
The government is considering reducing customs duty on seven imported tanning chemicals in the upcoming national budget, offering slight relief to the country’s struggling tannery sector.
28 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Private investment sinks to five-year low
Private investment as a percentage of the gross domestic product has slumped to its lowest level in five years, stoking fears over waning business confidence and a slowdown in job creation.
28 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Toy industry: From import reliance to export growth
In the heart of Dhaka, amid vibrant toy displays and the hum of industry conversations at InterContinental Dhaka, sector people were talking about a quiet revolution — one that could redefine Bangladesh’s export landscape and lessen its long-standing reliance on imported toys.
22 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Japanese FDI rising, still there’s room to attract more
Japanese investment in Bangladesh has grown steadily over the past decade. But with clearer policies, improved infrastructure and a more predictable regulatory environment, there is room to attract much more.
20 May 2025, 18:00 PM
High inflation, costly loans force firms to cut spending
Some manufacturers say they are now opting to reduce office utility consumption, optimise office supplies, minimise bank dependence, and find alternative funding sources.
18 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh set to remain world’s top cotton importer in MY26
Bangladesh is on track to retain its status as the world’s biggest cotton importer in the marketing year (MY) 2025-26, with imports projected to reach 8.5 million bales, according to a record-setting forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
14 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Construction of Chinese economic zone gains momentum
The construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram has gained momentum nearly a decade after its initiation, as Dhaka and Beijing look to strengthen bilateral ties and punishing Trump tariffs prompt Chinese manufacturers to consider relocating factories.
13 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Despite April decline, pharma exports maintain upward trend
Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports rose by 3.46 percent year-on-year in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, despite a sharp drop in April due mainly to holidays in key markets and US aid cuts hurting merchandise shipments.
12 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Govt moves to merge investment bodies to ease business
The Chief Adviser’s Office has recently formed an eight-member committee to assess the proposed merger of several investment-related agencies under the single umbrella of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).
6 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Unchecked growth not an option: BIP
The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) aims to strike a balance between development and sustainability of Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), as it says relaxing DAP guidelines to favour real estate interests would cause long-term consequences to the liveability of the megacity.
27 April 2025, 18:00 PM
DAP hurts home buyers: REHAB
Regulations in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) are limiting housing responses to meet Dhaka’s growing accommodation needs, according to realtors, as they argue that current urban policies are doing more harm than good.
27 April 2025, 18:00 PM
Ministry shelves plan to hike fees on jute exports
Just five days after issuing a gazette notification imposing export fees on raw jute and jute products, the government has withdrawn the order to review the decision, following strong concerns from industry stakeholders over what they described as an excessive hike.
21 April 2025, 18:00 PM
Five-star hotel opens in Bhaluka next year
Best Holdings Ltd is set to open the first five-star hotel in Bangladesh’s industrial belt by June 2026, introducing luxury hospitality to Bhaluka in Mymensingh district.
20 April 2025, 18:00 PM
'Bangladesh feels like South Korea of the 80s'
Giordano Korea CEO sees ‘familiar signs of promise’ as he plans a factory in economic zone
15 April 2025, 18:00 PM