Channel more financing to SMEs

At least half of all credits disbursed by banks and other financial institutions in Bangladesh should go to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) since a significant of them still don’t have access to the formal credit system despite recent improvements, said a noted economist.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Taka-rupee debit card from September: BB

The central bank is going to introduce a taka-rupee debit card in September to allow travellers to make payments at home and in India, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder said yesterday.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Threads surges to 100m users in five days

Meta Platforms’ Twitter rival Threads crossed 100 million sign-ups within five days of launch, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on Monday, dethroning ChatGPT as the fastest-growing online platform to hit the milestone.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Edible oil prices fall for lower import cost

Refiners in Bangladesh have reduced the prices of soybean oil and palm oil as import costs decreased in line with the global market situation.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Eastern Bank opens India business desk

Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) yesterday launched a dedicated “India Business Desk” to facilitate cross-border business transactions between Bangladesh and India.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Floor price will be lifted once economy stabilises: BSEC chief

The stock market regulator will withdraw the market’s floor price as soon as the economy reaches a stable condition and investments of investors are secured, said a top official of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) yesterday. 
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Robi launches tourist SIM

Robi, the second-largest mobile network operator in Bangladesh, today launched tourist SIM for travellers visiting the country.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

$190m ADB loan for upgrading rural roads

Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $190 million funding for upgrading rural roads, making agricultural areas more productive, and improving socioeconomic centres in rural areas of Bangladesh. 
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Clean tech minerals market surges to $320b: IEA

The market for the minerals key to the clean energy transition soared to $320 billion last year but faces challenges including volatile prices, supply chain snarls and geopolitical tensions, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Top business leaders welcome trade in rupee with India

The settlement of trade with India in the rupee will offer some benefit to exporters as this is expected to protect them from currency conversion loss and save time, according to a number of business people.
11 July 2023, 18:00 PM

BSCIC suffers Tk 25cr losses for dues

The BSCIC suffered a loss of Tk 25.32 crore in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 as it did not realise dues related to service charges and lease money from a number of plot owners in several industrial estates, according to an audit report.
11 July 2023, 00:40 AM

How foreign banks keep NPL in check while locals struggle

At a time when almost all of the local banks in Bangladesh are grappling with higher non-performing loans (NPLs), most foreign lenders have been able to keep the default rate in check.
11 July 2023, 00:25 AM

Islami Bank gets new vice-chairman

Tanveer Ahmad has been elected as the vice-chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd.
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Nagad hits 8cr customer milestone

Mobile financial service (MFS) provider Nagad has recently reached a milestone of having eight crore customers in only four years of its operation.
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Mutual Trust Bank, GP sign partnership agreement

Mutual Trust Bank Ltd and Grameenphone have signed a partnership agreement to introduce a touch-free automation system for mobile operator’s distributors with a bid to align with “Smart Bangladesh” vision.
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Countries repatriating gold in wake of sanctions against Russia

An increasing number of countries are repatriating gold reserves as protection against the sort of sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, according to an Invesco survey of central bank and sovereign wealth funds published on Monday.
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Preparations underway for FBCCI polls on July 31

Preparations are underway by a board which would hold an election in Dhaka on July 31 to form the top management of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) for the 2023-25 term. 
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Jute acreage sees growth

Jute acreage in Bangladesh has increased this season as growers expanded cultivation, encouraged by better prices after last year’s harvest, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

Mosquito coils, sprays, nets see rising demand

The demand for anti-mosquito products, such as coils, aerosol sprays, nets and rackets, has increased in Bangladesh as people are looking to avoid dengue fever amid the recent outbreak, according to businesspeople.
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM

3 firms sell entire stake in Islami Bank

Three firms -- Armada Spinning Mills Limited, Kingsway Endeavors Limited and Uniglobe Business Resources Limited -- sold off their entire shareholdings of over 14 crore shares, or 9.07 per cent, at Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd (IBBL).
10 July 2023, 18:00 PM