Stocks in Bangladesh inched down yesterday as most investors were cautious over macroeconomic concerns. 

The Cabinet yesterday approved a draft of National Agricultural Marketing Policy, 2023 aiming to ensure fair prices for consumers and maximum benefits for farmers through the modernisation of the market. 

Consumer electronics brand Vision of Pran-RFL Group has launched an OLED TV, a television with display technology based on the characteristics of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED). 

Sonali Bank has introduced new digital banking services with the aim of bringing technology-based modern banking services to the doorsteps of its clients, especially expatriate Bangladeshis living in any part of the world.

Dhaka Bank recently promoted Akhlaqur Rahman and Sheikh Abdul Bakir to the post of deputy managing directors.

Novoair, one of the country’s leading private airlines, is celebrating its 10th anniversary through various programmes. 

The government should formulate a “transition strategy” with the private sector to address any detrimental effect, such as a loss in exports, arising from Bangladesh’s United Nations status graduation in 2026, said the DCCI yesterday. 

Global energy prices dropped 6.2 per cent in December, led by crude oil, according to a World Bank report.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) is now providing 67 services to investors through its One Stop Service (OSS) portal, said its executive chairman, Lokman Hossain Miah, yesterday. 

Bangladesh will attract more British investment if the existing business-related “complexities” are removed, said Rushanara Ali, the British prime minister’s trade envoy to Bangladesh.

The shipment of plastic products rose 41 per cent year-on-year to $100.17 million in the first six months of the current financial year as orders surged following the post-pandemic recovery and manufacturers made a foray into new export destinations, official figures showed.

Two of the government’s 28 Covid-19 stimulus packages saw a fresh injection of Tk 50,000 crore in the ongoing financial year, but only 4 per cent of the fund was disbursed between July and October.   

The year 2022 had been a good year for Bangladesh’s two local airlines thanks to increased flow of travellers after the authorities lifted pandemic-related restrictions.

The flow of fresh investments in the garment accessories segment slowed in the last two years mainly for the severe fallout of Covid-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the US dollar crisis. 

Apparel exporters have demanded that the government fast narrow down the gap between the rates at which the US dollar is bought and sold, citing that they were incurring losses for volatility in the exchange rate. 

Bangladesh has an ill-defined policy regime, infrastructure limitations, high cost of business and sky-high fuel cost which makes it difficult to sustain airline ventures here, said Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman.

DBL Group has availed itself of a $52 million loan from British International Investment, a development finance institution of the UK, for the construction of a manufacturing facility. 

Pubali Bank Limited and the Bangladesh Bank signed an agreement on disbursement of loans under a refinancing scheme worth Tk 5,000 crore for food security of the country.

TVS Auto Bangladesh, a distributor of two- and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company, launched a fresh edition of TVS Metro Plus 110 motorcycles in the Bangladesh market.

Stocks on Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) slightly inched down yesterday for a second consecutive trading session.