Experts say raising policy rate would have little impact on lowering food prices

Bangladesh’s cotton consumption is expected to rise marginally to 78 lakh bales in marketing year 2024-25, which began in August, according to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report published on Friday.

The interim government has reinstated a tax exemption for Grameen Bank and offered it for the next five years, meaning until December 2029.

Bangladesh could increase its output in the manufacturing, service and farming sectors by up to 29 percent simply by bringing more women into the workforce, according to the World Bank.

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.

Bangladesh’s migrant workers sent home Tk 1,101.8 crore in remittances through mobile financial service (MFS) providers in August, marking the highest monthly receipts through digital channels in the past five years.

NCC Bank has launched four new products to support cottage, micro, small and medium enterprise (CMSME) entrepreneurs, with credit facilities ranging from Tk 1 lakh to Tk 10 crore.

Prime Bank PLC has recently partnered with Ramada by Wyndham Cox’s Bazar.

Telecom and ICT industry experts yesterday proposed the formation of a specialised taskforce to urgently address the high cost of mobile and broadband data in Bangladesh.

Thanks to The Daily Star and DHL Worldwide for holding Bangladesh Business Awards for 22 consecutive years. Having been with its jury panel for nine years during the initial period, I know how tough it is to find the awardees, especially the individual businesspersons with respectable track records.

The tax-free facility will continue until June 2029

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) issued a gazette on Thursday, confirming the reinstatement of Grameen Bank

The Washington-based multilateral lender’s Business Ready (B-Ready) report, which was released yesterday, also places Bangladesh in the fourth tier of five stages for public service delivery, indicating weaker performance in this area too

Transactions through debit, credit and prepaid cards dipped to a 27-month low in August this year, owing to a lack of cash in ATM booths amidst security concerns and people curtailing spending for political uncertainties..Overall transactions through the cards in August amounted to Tk 33,9

The World Bank has slashed its forecast for Bangladesh’s economic growth by 1.7 percentage points to 4 percent for FY25 due to “significant uncertainties following recent political turmoil” and “data unavailability”.

The shift from “Digital Bangladesh” to “Smart Bangladesh” was like trying to drive a car without an engine — all talk, little substance. While we have made big claims on paper, the reality was far from impressive. While waving the “Digital Bangladesh” flag, we ranked 105 out of 132 in Global Innovation Index 2023 (Source: World Intellectual Property Organization).

As crisis-hit lenders have started getting liquidity support from the inter-bank money market, they are now repaying depositors for specific purposes, such as medical emergencies, and in the case of salary disbursement or remittance encashment.

Bangladesh’s exports of jute and jute goods have been falling continuously as many buyers have switched to synthetic and regenerated cotton yarn due to high prices of the golden fibre in the domestic market.

The recent rise in travellers comes as a relief for the tourism industry in Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Sylhet as these regions were suffering from low turnout in July, August and September this year.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on October 9 protested a report published by various media outlets, including The Daily Star, titled "Armed forces to ensure security of BSEC." The news was published on October 7 in The Daily Star.