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Sukanta Halder

Sukanta Halder is a staff correspondent of The Daily Star, covering insurance, agriculture, commodity markets, the private sector and consumers.

book-fair.jpg

Curtailed, delayed Boi Mela sees sales plummet

11 hour(s) ago
On most evenings, the grounds of the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela still reflect the familiar spirit of Bangladesh’s literary season -- students browsing poetry collections, families posing for photographs beneath colourful banners, and writers signing newly released books.
11 hour(s) ago
farmers card Bangladesh pre-pilot phase 2026

25,000 to be picked for Farmers’ Card pre-pilot phase

6 March 2026, 03:14 AM
The Farmers’ Card will be launched on a pre-pilot basis by April 14 this year, with around 25,000 farmers in nine upazilas of eight districts set to get the benefit.
6 March 2026, 03:14 AM
Iran War Threatens to Push Up Trade Costs Bangladesh

Iran war could raise Bangladesh’s trade costs

4 March 2026, 00:00 AM
Shipping disruptions, cargo rerouting, and rising freight and insurance costs are set to increase business expenses
4 March 2026, 00:00 AM
sakib al hasan (1).jpg

Shakib’s return in balance amid legal hurdles

2 March 2026, 08:00 AM
With Pakistan scheduled to arrive on March 9 for a three-match ODI series, anticipation is mounting over whether Shakib could return during the tour.
2 March 2026, 08:00 AM
TCB subsidised food during Ramadan

More families turn to TCB as poverty deepens

27 February 2026, 02:46 AM
At 2:12pm, a Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) truck was parked by the roadside under Kazipara Metro Station in Dhaka.
27 February 2026, 02:46 AM
Fruit-imports.jpg

Fruit imports face curbs despite dollar relief

25 February 2026, 00:00 AM
The dollar crisis has eased. Foreign exchange reserves have improved from the lows seen four years ago. But imported fruits still face a 100 percent cash margin for opening letters of credit (LCs).
25 February 2026, 00:00 AM
Rajshahi-azahar.jpg

Onion prices ease on higher imports, harvests of early varieties

25 February 2026, 00:00 AM
With the main harvesting season for onions beginning in early March, prices of the popular bulb have fallen over the past week amid increased availability of early-harvested onions and imports, according to traders and farmers.
25 February 2026, 00:00 AM
fruit-market-palash-khan.jpg

Fruit imports face curbs despite dollar relief

24 February 2026, 22:43 PM
Although foreign currency pressures have eased, 100% cash margin requirements keep supply tight and prices high
24 February 2026, 22:43 PM
Bangladesh to remove rice import duty

BTTC wants duty free rice imports

The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) has requested the government to temporarily withdraw import duty on rice to increase the supply and, in turn, contain the price of this staple food in the local markets.
29 October 2024, 18:00 PM
onions

Onion price rises on supply crunch

Onion prices at retail markets in Dhaka rose by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kg over the past week, deepening the woes of low and fixed-income people
26 October 2024, 15:09 PM
rice.jpg

Traders reluctant to import rice despite tariff cuts

Rice traders in Bangladesh are less interested in importing the grain despite the recent slash in related tariffs as they do not believe there is enough of a profit margin because of high prices on the international market.
24 October 2024, 18:00 PM
untitled.jpg

SMEs hit hard by August floods need govt assistance to survive

Most SMEs lost all of their belongings and now seek government assistance
23 October 2024, 12:33 PM
CSR-mandatory.jpg

Half of banks’ CSR spending went to disaster management

Of their total corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure, banks spent 45 percent on disaster management violating rules in the first half of 2024, with bankers saying it mainly went to various funds maintained by the Prime Minister’s Office before the political changeover on August 5.
21 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Restaurants face sluggish sales as diners tighten belt

Restaurants face sluggish sales as diners tighten belt

When Sheuly Akhter and her friend entered a branch of Star Kabab in Dhanmondi on Thursday last week, marking their return to the establishment for the first time in nearly four months, they were surprised by the lack of customers.
20 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Eggs as Superfood

Egg supplies take a hit

The Tejgaon Egg Merchants’ Association, which delivers about 15 percent of the daily supply of 1 crore eggs in the capital, stopped sales from Sunday night claiming it was to avoid harassment by the government authorities.
14 October 2024, 18:06 PM
puja.jpg

Puja brings little cheer to sweet shops

Sweets makers in Dhaka have found little reason to cheer during the ongoing Durga Puja festivities as chain stores reported that sales have not grown due to security concerns weighing on the minds of devotees.
12 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Hilsa fish trade in Bangladesh

Of Hilsa and its hunters

On the corner of a crowded and noisy floor, a bespectacled man was calling out bids for a basket of Hilsa fish. He repeated the prices quoted by traders in a loud, rhythmic tone: “1,400-1,420-1,450…”
11 October 2024, 18:00 PM
New administrator appointed for Sonali Life

Tk 353cr anomalies found at Sonali Life Insurance

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has discovered anomalies worth Tk 353 crore at Sonali Life Insurance Company, accusing its former chairman Mostafa Golam Quddus and his family members of irregularities, fraud, and money laundering.
8 October 2024, 01:00 AM
essential-commodities_no_cap.jpg

Prices of essentials: Rains, supply dearth cause spike

The prices of rice, eggs, broiler chicken, soybean oil, palm oil, sugar and vegetables have increased significantly in Dhaka due to a supply shortage and incessant rain.
5 October 2024, 18:19 PM
bussiness.jpg

Why are chicken and egg prices nowhere near govt rates?

Prices of eggs and broiler chicken, two major sources of protein, prevailing in Dhaka’s markets have long surpassed rates set by the interim government in September, putting pressure on consumers plagued with persistently high inflation.
3 October 2024, 18:00 PM
fashion.jpg

Fashion brands see higher customer footfall ahead of Durga Puja

Fashion brands and retailers are witnessing increased customer footfall ahead of Durga Puja, the biggest annual festival for Hindu community, despite rising prices and political uncertainty.
2 October 2024, 18:00 PM
bscic.png

434 units at BSCIC estates are either sick or closed

A total of 434 industrial units under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) are either suffering over financial issues or have already closed down due to various reasons..As such, some of these units are not operating at full capacity while others are not generati
28 September 2024, 18:00 PM
tourism sector struggling in Bangladesh 2024

Tourism in turmoil

The tourism sector of Bangladesh has been hit hard by the 2024 national elections, unfavourable weather, recurring floods and anti-discrimination movement in the current year compared to last year, as people are unwilling to travel for fear of violence.
26 September 2024, 18:00 PM
wfp.jpg

Six in ten low-income households struggle to meet nutritional needs

Around 38 percent of low-income households in Bangladesh were food insecure in August as essential commodity prices only dropped slightly after the interim government took office on August 8, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).
26 September 2024, 18:00 PM
number.jpg

Political favouritism eroded confidence in insurance sector

More than two-thirds of the insurance companies registered in Bangladesh since 1990 were approved during the regimes of the Awami League government led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
21 September 2024, 18:00 PM
chicken-1.jpg

Chicken, egg traders defy govt-fixed prices

Eggs and broiler chickens -- a key source of protein for the poor -- are not being sold anywhere in Dhaka at rates set by the government on Sunday this week.
17 September 2024, 18:00 PM
boro-bazar-in-khulna.jpg

Plastic rules amid lax compliance with 14-yr old jute packaging law

Mandatory jute packaging for nearly two dozen of food stuff now falls almost flat thanks to slack implementation of the law. 
15 September 2024, 18:00 PM
Onion

Onion turns Tk 5 cheaper here as India relaxes export rules

Prices of Indian onion are dropping in Bangladesh, as the neighbouring country on Friday withdrew the restriction of “minimum export price” at $550 per tonne and slashed export duty to 20 percent from 40 percent.
14 September 2024, 18:43 PM

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