Jagaran Chakma

Cement manufacturers in Bangladesh would not lay off any employees despite the collapse in demand for the key construction material and economic uncertainties brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, said industry players.

It’s never easy to buy or sell a home -- even in the best market conditions, said Peter Lane Taylor, a contributor to Forbes, in an article on Sunday. And in the current purgatory climate, it’s become nearly impossible.

Leather goods and footwear manufacturers and exporters see little possibility of returning to normalcy this year as demand at home and abroad will be depressed for the global coronavirus pandemic.

At the turn of the year, sweet makers were impatient for the month of April to arrive.

Steel manufacturers are bracing for massive losses as the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the import of raw materials and production -- a development that will also deal a blow to real estate and infrastructure projects.

Local pharmaceuticals have produced a drug called Favipiravir -- an anti-flu and viral infection medication -- said to be effective in the treatment of coronavirus patients in China.

Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT), one of the largest container terminal operators of Saudi Arabia, is keen on investing in the construction of Chattogram Port’s Bay Terminal under the public-private partnership model.

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a spanner in the works of all major infrastructure projects, a turn of events that is poised to delay implementation and scale up cost, according to project officials and experts.

Despite being hit by the fallout of the coronavirus, Bangladesh’s corporate giants are not sitting idle as they have joined the government’s efforts by enhancing supplies to the ill-equipped health sector and extending helping hand to the low-income people who are facing existential crisis because of the lockdown.

Automobile garages have joined the growing list of establishments taking a beating from the global coronavirus pandemic, putting in jeopardy the livelihoods of about 5 lakh auto mechanics and technicians.

Dark clouds are brewing on the horizon for money exchangers in Dhaka as coronavirus-induced international flight postponement has led to a drastic decrease in their customer numbers, causing exchange rates to fall.

The government is going to slash this fiscal year’s development budget by 4.8 per cent from the original outlay mainly due to slow implementation of projects funded by foreign assistance.

The World Bank will provide $100 million to Bangladesh to help the country take preventive measures in the face of global coronavirus pandemic.

Integrity, quality construction and timely delivery of projects can bring lasting success and reliability in the real estate business, said Tanvir Ahmed, managing director of Sheltech Group, one of the leading realtors in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s infrastructure equipment manufacturing sector is undergoing sweeping changes to meet the increased demand brought on by the implementation of the government’s mega projects to accelerate economic growth.

Bangladesh’s per capita income will cross $4,000 within next decade and this will act as a springboard for the country looking to become a high-income economy, according to Hitoshi Hirata, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Adani Group’s entry into Bangladesh’s money-spinning infrastructure sector is drawing closer after it declared incorporation of a wholly owned subsidiary company named Adani Bangladesh Ports Private (ABPPL) on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India, where it is listed.

Meghna Group of Industries (MGI), a leading Bangladeshi business group, is set to flag off nine industrial units at its economic zone in Narayanganj tomorrow in a bid to meet the country’s growing demand for consumer products and industrial raw materials.

Poorly managed exchange rate, ad hoc-based incentive and existing domestic protection levels will not make Bangladesh’s exports competitive and help diversify both products and destinations, according to a new plan of the government.

Five jetties and necessary infrastructure will be set up in the economic zones in the country’s south-eastern part to ensure comfortable and safe movement of people as well as tourism and landing facilities.