Farmers count losses as Aman prices fall
As the Aman paddy harvesting reaches its peak across the country, farmers are expressing frustration over falling prices, with rates dropping by Tk 100-150 per maund compared with last year. The Daily Star correspondents from more than 13 districts found that paddy prices have declined over the past two weeks, leaving many farmers struggling to cover costs.
2 December 2025, 18:00 PM
Fish stocks in the Bay drop nearly 80% in 7 years
Survey blames overfishing as pelagic species fall to one-fifth of previous levels
30 November 2025, 18:00 PM
Govt unifies fertiliser distribution with new dealer policy
The move comes after farmers repeatedly complained about paying higher than government-set rates for fertilisers
29 November 2025, 16:14 PM
Dholaikhal: The scrapyard that keeps Bangladesh moving
Go to Dholaikhal and see if you can find it there: this is the cruel joke your friends might have hurled at you once you lost your car
21 November 2025, 18:00 PM
Govt shelves plan to buy 50,000 tonnes of potatoes
After months of promises, interim govt has withdrawn its plan to purchase 50,000 tonnes of potatoes
20 November 2025, 14:21 PM
Businesses file Tk 600cr insurance claims over Dhaka airport fire
A government probe has found that unsafe storage practices and the absence of fire protection systems allowed the blaze to spread.
17 November 2025, 18:00 PM
Election jitters, infrastructure gaps threaten tourism
Bangladesh, with its large population and strong domestic demand, has significant potential for a thriving tourism sector. However, tourism infrastructure is still not up to the required standard, said Mohammad Rafeuzzaman, president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (Toab), the country’s apex body of tour operators.
16 November 2025, 18:00 PM
Govt proposes scrapping Sadharan Bima’s exclusive reinsurance right
It can facilitate foreign funds to development projects
8 November 2025, 18:00 PM
Baggage rules for gold tightened
The government has introduced stricter regulations on the import of gold bars and ornaments under newly updated baggage rules while offering some leniency in other areas.
4 June 2025, 18:00 PM
Agri budget not enough to ensure food security: experts
The government has proposed a 3.55 percent rise in the budget allocation for agriculture, food, livestock and fisheries in the next fiscal year, setting aside Tk 39,620 crore..But agro-economists say the increase is far from sufficient to ensure the country’s long-term food security..<p
4 June 2025, 14:30 PM
Hotels at tourist spots almost fully booked
Hotels, motels and resorts at popular tourist destinations across the country are almost fully booked during the ten-day Eid-ul-Azha holidays, which begin in the first week of June.
3 June 2025, 18:00 PM
FY26 budget skips insurance reforms
The liquidity crisis in the sector worsened significantly in 2024, with only 57 percent of insurance claims being settled,
3 June 2025, 10:43 AM
Budget for FY26: OTT platforms may get costlier
The interim government is likely to impose a 10 percent supplementary duty on over-the-top (OTT) platform services in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 — a move that is expected to raise consumer costs and increase spending on paid streaming services.
1 June 2025, 18:07 PM
Agriculture growth hits decade-low
Bangladesh’s agriculture sector recorded its weakest growth in over a decade this fiscal year, prompting fresh concerns about food security, rural incomes and overall economic recovery.
31 May 2025, 18:00 PM
69% overwhelmed by ‘excessive’ VAT on essentials
About 69 percent of low-income people view the value-added tax (VAT) on essential items as excessive, according to a survey, with most seeing it as a significant financial burden.
29 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Customs duty for buses may halve to 5%
In a move to develop an effective public transport system in the country’s major cities, the interim government may reduce customs duties on the import of public buses.
25 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Smart farming: Drones and AI to drive yield gains
In order to feed a growing population with ever-diminishing farmland, the country’s agriculture has undergone a notable transformation since independence, buoyed by high-yielding varieties, chemical fertilisers, and pesticides.
24 May 2025, 18:06 PM
Fareast islami life sells vehicles, cuts jobs to reduce costs
Fareast Islami Life Insurance Company Limited is selling its vehicles and slashing its workforce in a desperate effort to cut costs and counter a deepening financial crisis.
24 May 2025, 18:05 PM
Only 5 of 28 locally developed tea varieties popular
Out of the 28 varieties of tea plants developed by state-run Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), only five are widely cultivated in the country, based on their high yield, quality, and climate resilience.
20 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Competition commission to redefine ‘dominant players’
The authorities are drafting amendments to the Competition Commission Act, enacted in 2012, to establish clearer criteria for identifying dominant market players across various sectors, according to officials.
19 May 2025, 18:02 PM
Subsidised food supply shrinks despite poverty fears
Although inflation has remained at elevated levels for over two years, the sale and distribution of essential food items by public agencies showed a year-on-year drop until May of fiscal year 2024-25, raising fears that many vulnerable people in the country could be left contending with food insecurity.
14 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Farmers get higher prices for fresh Boro paddy
Bangladeshi farmers are receiving higher prices for freshly harvested Boro paddy this season compared to the year prior, thanks to increased demand driving up market rates.
11 May 2025, 18:00 PM
From café corners to cash flow
Once considered high-priced, cold brew coffee and espresso-based drinks have become a defining feature of urban life in Bangladesh, blending community, creativity and culture in every cup.
9 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Potato farmers hit hard by price drop amid record output
Many potato farmers across Bangladesh are incurring losses this season despite a bumper harvest and the highest exports in three years, as a steep drop in domestic prices has left them unable to recover even their production costs.
6 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Insurance policy lapses decline
The number of policyholders failing to pay their insurance premiums on time declined in 2024 from the previous year, but the rate of discontinued policies remains high -- reflecting fragile customer confidence in the local insurance sector.
4 May 2025, 18:00 PM
Credit for livestock and poultry creeps downward
The share of credit disbursement to the livestock and poultry subsectors of the agriculture industry slipped slightly in the first eight months of the current fiscal year (FY), according to a report by Bangladesh Bank.
27 April 2025, 18:00 PM
Why gold costs more in Bangladesh than in India, Dubai
Gold prices in Bangladesh continue to soar, leaving many to wonder why the precious metal costs more here than in neighbouring India or the global trading hub Dubai.
23 April 2025, 15:19 PM
Why onion prices are rising abruptly
Onion prices have been increasing over the past weeks, as farmers and traders release fewer stocks to local markets in the hope of better returns amid the government’s suspension of imports.
22 April 2025, 18:00 PM