Potato exports climbed to a three-year high in the recently concluded fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, as traders took advantage of a slump in domestic prices to increase shipments abroad.

Bangladesh’s imports recovered in fiscal year 2024-25 after two years of downturns, but capital machinery imports fell for the third consecutive year, reflecting a low appetite for investment among entrepreneurs.

Top business leaders have expressed frustration over the government’s progress in negotiations with the United States on reciprocal tariffs, saying they are now working to appoint a lobbyist on their own, though doubts remain about whether this last-ditch effort will succeed.

With support from the World Bank and more importantly the IMF, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) has largely improved its policy analysis capability. The regulator has been announcing the half-yearly monetary policy statement (MPS) since 2007.

Stockbrokers have called for a reduction in the number of independent directors on the board of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), arguing that many such appointees lack relevant experience and are politically biased.

Private sector’s foreign loans started rising again as firms are showing interest in borrowing from the international market to benefit from the falling interest rate.

Over the past decade, more and more industries have sprung up across the country, steadily increasing production. But while output rose, factories did not open their doors to more workers.

The stability of Bangladesh’s banking sector is under serious threat, and it’s no longer an abstract issue confined to industry insiders or economists.

The Asian Development Bank plans to provide $1 billion in budget support to advance Bangladesh’s banking sector reforms, contingent on 25 conditions including the creation of a financial stability fund for banks facing capital shortfalls.

Gold prices were little changed on Thursday as investors held back from making significant bets, awaiting US payroll data later in the day for insight into the Federal Reserve’s policy direction.

The telecom regulator has decided to permit the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) and Bangladesh Railway to extend their optical fibre networks beyond their respective grid lines and railway tracks in a bid to improve internet connectivity across the country.

A classic and familiar office tale: Meet VP (Vice President) Mojnu. Mojnu bhai, known for his “strict leadership,” has one peculiar habit: never making eye contact.

The banking regulator is expected to soon introduce new regulations to ensure transparency and discipline in the issuance of e-money and tackle fraud using virtual money, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves crossed $25 billion after two and a half years, thanks to an increased inflow of remittance and the release of funds by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), and other lending agencies.

Due to my long association with the tea industry, friends often ask me: if tea gardens are not profitable, why do so many people want to own them? More importantly, who skims the milk in our tea value chain?

Bangladesh is already facing the brunt of climate change in its major rice-growing regions, according to Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Director General Mohammad Khalequzzaman, as the institute has identified several climate-induced stresses that threaten production and eventually cause food security concerns.

The government has pledged a series of sweeping reforms to meet International Monetary Fund conditions for the next instalment of its $5.5 billion loan, including a public survey to measure corruption in tax administration and a phased reduction of subsidies on electricity, fertiliser, remittances and exports.

Bangladesh plans to launch a Tk 316 crore reform programme aimed at significantly speeding up project planning, approval, and implementation through the use of artificial intelligence for the first time.

Even amidst the tough times at present, garment shipments to the European Union (EU) showcased resilience as Bangladesh fared well in the January-April period, showing signs of an opportunity to overtake China, the largest apparel supplier worldwide, in the EU markets.

The availability of good quality rawhides has fallen sharply in Bangladesh over the years, although overall supply has increased, according to a research report.