The regional economic growth in eight South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, is likely to be between 1.8 and 2.8 percent in 2020, down from 6.3 percent projected six months ago, amid the fallout triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Bank says in its twice-a-year-regional update.

Bangladesh Bank yesterday asked lenders not to impose any late payment fees on credit cardholders, who are finding it difficult to clear the bills due to the ongoing movement restriction and short banking hours.

Mobile phone operators have asked the telecom regulator to allocate some spectrum for free for the time being, reasoning that their network had become busier for a surge in data use amid the novel coronavirus-induced ongoing lockdown.

People are taking more digital services now than during other times amid the government-declared general holiday, Mahatab Uddin Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of Robi, says during a Facebook live session.

Banks’ capacity to provide loans at 9 per cent interest has shrunk even before the government-fixed ceiling is implemented as both individuals and corporate institutions are withdrawing deposits to protect themselves from the ongoing economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) complains that the staff of mobile and internet service providers are facing restrictions from the law enforcement agencies at different places across the country.

The number of active internet connections in the country soared by 738,000 last month to reach 99,984,000, very close to the 10-crore landmark, according to the statistics published by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

In an unprecedented move, the central bank yesterday said it will buy Treasury bills and bonds from banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) to tackle the impending economic slowdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Amid aspirants’ fears over coronavirus, the Bankers' Selection Committee Secretariat is taking viva voce for the post of ‘Assistant Executive Officer (AEO)’ of Janata Bank Limited.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited is planning to introduce free WiFi hotspots in 1,216 union parishads where it has its own fibre-optic connectivity, the state-owned telco’s managing director says on a Facebook Live video.

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.

The big question on economists’ mind is, how will the 9 per cent ceiling on bank lending rates impact the conduct of monetary policy?

Robi plans to submit its application for listing in the country’s twin bourses to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in the middle of next month, as the long-awaited debut of the second largest mobile phone operator is finally taking shape.

Walton is set to export smartphones to the US, in what can be viewed as a remarkable endorsement of the leaps taken by Bangladesh’s manufacturing sector.

The government has slashed the international incoming voice call rate by 65.71 per cent to $0.006 per minute in the face of shrinking earnings from the sector in recent years.

Banglalink, once the country’s most spirited operator, is finally turning around its fortunes by putting in higher emphasis on digital services and investment on 4G network.

The central bank yesterday announced a fresh credit support for banks with a view to giving a boost to the ailing capital market.

Thousands of farmers and traders in Khulna region are incurring losses worth Tk four crore every day as crab and eel exports to China have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal tells parliament that while there are some liquidity crises in the stock market, there is no liquidity crisis in the banking sector.

The way unknown hackers hatched plans to steal money from the Bangladesh Bank’s reserves with the New York Fed using the most sophisticated banking and payment channels as well their near-perfect preparation and timing will render many detective stories and Hollywood movies average.