LDC graduation deferral awaits UNGA nod
11 hour(s) ago
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) yesterday supported Bangladesh and Nepal’s request for a three-year extension of the preparatory period for LDC graduation.
11 hour(s) ago
Govt revives talk of sovereign bond
22 July 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh is once again considering issuing a sovereign bond to raise funds from international investors, but economists warn the country may not yet be ready
22 July 2026, 00:00 AM
Govt vows banking, tax reforms if LDC exit delayed
21 July 2026, 00:00 AM
The draft plan has since been circulated among relevant ministries and will be finalised soon before submission to the UNCDP and other international bodies.
21 July 2026, 00:00 AM
Dhaka-Ashulia Expressway: Cost poised to climb 54%
20 July 2026, 00:00 AM
The cost of the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway project is likely to rise by another Tk 9,493 crore to Tk 27,046 crore, about Tk 5,000 crore less than what it cost to build the Padma Bridge.
20 July 2026, 00:00 AM
New loan programme: IMF to push for banking reforms, tax boost
17 July 2026, 00:00 AM
The conditions for the possible new International Monetary Fund programme are likely to be based on raising the tax-GDP ratio, reducing subsidies, exchange rate flexibility and banking sector reforms.
17 July 2026, 00:00 AM
LDC exit in 2026 could deepen economic woes: govt report
16 July 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh’s economy is in crisis due to domestic and external shocks, and graduation from the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) this year will worsen the situation due to several risks, according to a government document.
16 July 2026, 00:00 AM
New IMF loan may come next January, say officials
12 July 2026, 00:00 AM
A new International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programme, prioritising revenue collection growth and banking sector reforms in Bangladesh, may commence next January.
12 July 2026, 00:00 AM
Fresh hike in oil prices may derail inflation target
8 July 2026, 00:00 AM
The Finance Division has warned that a possible fresh surge in global oil prices driven by the Middle East war could derail Bangladesh’s inflation-control efforts, pushing average inflation above 9 percent in the current fiscal year and further squeezing household purchasing power.
8 July 2026, 00:00 AM
WB cuts FY25 growth forecast to 4 percent
The World Bank has slashed its forecast for Bangladesh’s economic growth by 1.7 percentage points to 4 percent for FY25 due to “significant uncertainties following recent political turmoil” and “data unavailability”.
10 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Why the cost of Matarbari deep-sea port project is going up
Four years after its approval, the cost of the Matarbari deep-sea port project in Cox’s Bazar has escalated, while the deadline has been pushed back too.
8 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Banks mostly gave loans to their owners rather than creditworthy borrowers
Bangladesh’s banking sector was not well-managed in recent years. Banks mostly gave loans to their owners, rather than to creditworthy entities. Consequently, several banks are now in difficulty.
6 October 2024, 18:00 PM
IMF reaffirms support in fighting economic challenges
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh’s interim government in overcoming the various economic challenges the country has been facing in recent times.
30 September 2024, 18:00 PM
IMF reaffirms support for interim government
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh’s interim government in overcoming the various economic challenges the country has been facing in recent times.
30 September 2024, 15:40 PM
Distressed loans soar to a record Tk 4.75 lakh cr
Distressed loans at banks totalled over Tk 4.75 lakh crore at the end of 2023 – a revelation that makes for a sobering read of the actual health of this vital sector of the economy.
30 September 2024, 01:00 AM
Per capita foreign debt more than doubles in eight years
Per capita foreign debt of Bangladesh more than doubled in the last eight years, according to official data, as economists attribute the hike to unplanned foreign-funded projects and corruption, ultimately ballooning the liability on low-income people, including the extremely poor.
28 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Interest payments surpass Tk 100,000cr for first time
The government’s interest payments against foreign loans surged 24.5 percent in fiscal year 2023-24, exceeding the Tk 100,000 crore mark for the first time in history, thanks to higher borrowing costs for loans from both domestic and foreign sources.
26 September 2024, 18:00 PM
IMF to provide more loans on a fast track
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assured the interim government of providing more loans on a “fast-track” basis as Bangladesh expects $3 billion from the global lender.
25 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Inflation to hit double digits by end of FY25: ADB
Inflation is projected to hit double digits at the end of the current fiscal year owing to supply-side disruptions and higher import costs as a result of currency depreciation, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
25 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Metro line-5 proposal to be re-evaluated
For the first time, a proposal for a mega project will be sent back for further review as the interim government intends to re-evaluate all large projects to assess their usefulness carefully.
23 September 2024, 18:00 PM
IMF may seek subsidy cuts, more revenue against $3b loan
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to give more reform recommendations to reduce subsidies and increase revenue collection for an additional $3 billion loan sought by the interim government, according to a top official of the multilateral lender in Dhaka.
22 September 2024, 18:00 PM
IMF to assess Bangladesh’s need for fresh loan
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation due to arrive later this month will assess Bangladesh’s potential financial needs as the country sought a fresh $3 billion loan from the multilateral lender.
14 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Govt urges China to reduce loan interest, extend repayment period
The government has requested China to lower the interest rates on existing Chinese loans to 1 percent and extend the repayment period to 30 years.
12 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Workers’ minimum wage to be reviewed
In an effort to bring normalcy back to the industries, the government will review the workers’ wage through the minimum wage board, the interim government has decided.
12 September 2024, 01:00 AM
Bangladesh seeks $3b from ADB, WB
Bangladesh could get $3 billion in budgetary support under an Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB) arrangement for energy and power sector reforms and the upcoming status graduation from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing nation in 2026.
10 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Export target set at $57.5b for FY25
Bangladesh aims to increase its merchandise and service exports by about 12.74 percent year-on-year to $57.5 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to Finance and Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed.
8 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Govt may trim budget by Tk 100,000cr
The interim government is planning to revise the national budget for the current fiscal year urgently and cut “wasteful expenditures” in order to alleviate the pressure on the foreign currency reserves and tame persistent inflation.
31 August 2024, 18:00 PM
Budget support: Govt hunts for $8b from IMF, other lenders
The government is seeking as much as $8 billion in budget support by December from the development partners, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to pay back foreign liabilities and boost foreign exchange reserves.
28 August 2024, 18:00 PM
Data anarchy in revenue and expenditure continues
Although the authorities took steps to eliminate mismatches in export data in recent months, discrepancies in the data of revenue collection and expenditure among government agencies continue to persist.
26 August 2024, 18:00 PM