Jagaran Chakma

Jagaran Chakma is a Staff Reporter of The Daily Star

Geyser sales heat up as colder winter bites

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.

9 January 2026, 05:50 AM

Construction slump likely to persist in 2026

Says industry leaders, experts

3 January 2026, 18:00 PM

Comforters replacing blankets as urban winter favourite

When Rumana Parveen Rinky, a private jobholder, went shopping for winter essentials this year, she opted for something new -- a comforter..“It’s light, washable, and easy to use,” she said, explaining the reason behind switching from the heavy blanket she used in previous winters. “Blanket

31 December 2025, 14:20 PM

RMG industry under strain amid factory closures, job losses

BKMEA chief says, decries rising production costs

13 December 2025, 18:00 PM

Mid-range apartments prop up ailing property market

Premium segment buyers largely missing after the political changeover, while low-end customers beaten out of market

6 December 2025, 18:22 PM

Energy crisis, economic slump weigh on ceramic industry

Says a leader of ceramic manufacturers’ association

29 November 2025, 20:18 PM

Bangladesh yet to benefit from GI products: BUILD study

Moreover, many heritage items are at risk of losing their GI tag to other countries

26 November 2025, 13:30 PM

Opinion / Is Bangladesh’s economy really doing alright?

Beneath this surface of optimism lies a far more fragile reality

25 November 2025, 11:27 AM

Declining investments dampen growth outlook

Bangladesh’s investment-to-GDP ratio declined by 0.25 percentage points to 30.70 percent in the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, according to official data, signalling a potential slowdown in future economic growth.

13 February 2025, 18:00 PM

Local AC industry seeks ‘fair’ govt procurement policy

Local air conditioner (AC) manufacturers in Bangladesh are pushing for “fair” government procurement policies, arguing that existing rules favour foreign brands despite local companies meeting global standards.

8 February 2025, 18:00 PM

In fragile trust, economy falters

Over the last several years, Ahsan, a rickshaw puller in his 50s, has been eagerly waiting for relief from the high prices of food and other essentials. Days and months have passed, but his pursuit of a better living by escaping the curse of elevated inflation has remained a distant dream.

8 February 2025, 18:00 PM

Waning foreign investment a wake-up call for policymakers

The inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh is facing critical challenges as a plethora of factors have caused it to stagnate to a mere 0.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in recent years.

25 January 2025, 18:00 PM

Bangladesh must switch to hollow blocks to reduce pollution

Clay bricks cost Tk 12 per piece. A hollow block, which is four times larger than a clay brick, is priced at Tk 50.

22 January 2025, 18:00 PM

Chinese firms bullish on manmade fibre exports to Bangladesh

Non-cotton garments are particularly lucrative, fetching higher prices than traditional cottonwear for having better flexibility, durability

18 January 2025, 18:00 PM

Motorcycle sales hit six-year low

Interestingly, the premium motorcycle segment bucked the trend, showing significant growth in 2024.

18 January 2025, 18:00 PM

Polythene ban: A litmus test for will and eco-innovation

Although Bangladesh became the first country in the world to announce a complete ban on the use of polythene bags in 2002, strict enforcement of the much-lauded initiative has only started taking shape recently.

17 January 2025, 18:00 PM

Inflation, political uncertainty eat through furniture recovery

After two years of sluggish business, local furniture makers saw a slight improvement in sales in June, only to meet with nationwide student protests culminating in a fierce anti-government campaign that ultimately ousted the Awami League regime in early August.

28 December 2024, 18:00 PM

REHAB fair gives realtors a reality check

Real estate developers in Bangladesh participating in REHAB Fair-2024 were unsure of the event’s potential outcome until yesterday, when the sparse presence of visitors, let alone potential buyers, gave a reality check of the persistent economic challenges.

26 December 2024, 18:00 PM

Geyser sales pick up as winter bites

Like last year, there is a good demand for electricity-run residential water heaters, locally known as geysers, since the coming of winter this year thanks to changing lifestyles in semi-urban and urban areas and affordable prices, according to industry insiders.

25 December 2024, 18:00 PM

As dollar jumps, old inflation battle to get tougher in new year

After a four-month lull, US dollar prices made an abrupt jump in December, making imports more expensive and pushing up business costs.

24 December 2024, 18:00 PM

Non-leather footwear on course to half-billion export club

Bangladesh’s synthetic and athletic footwear exports have been growing rapidly, emerging as a bright spot in the country’s export basket, which is heavily dominated by readymade garments.

16 December 2024, 18:00 PM

Investment abroad hits $2b in 6 years

Bangladesh has long been hungry for foreign direct investments (FDI) but that has also been coupled with the outflow of funds through local companies seeking to generate business abroad.

7 December 2024, 18:00 PM

Businesses call to curb red tape, corruption to spur investment

Investment barriers at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) must be addressed immediately to bolster investor confidence and increase investment growth, according to experts and top business leaders.