The Bangladesh Bank yesterday raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 per cent as it stepped up its fight against inflation, which is running at a multi-year high.  

During a rural market visit a few years ago, I discovered, to my amusement, a keen interest in 5G penetration among the villagers. When I asked why they need 5G at all, as most did not have a smartphone, their shy excuses said it all. And why not, I urged them. There is nothing wrong with dreaming high.

Sika Bangladesh, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based construction chemical manufacturer Sika Group, is investing $6 million setting up a 10,000-square metre factory in Meghna Industrial Economic Zone (Miez) in Sonargaon of Narayanganj. 

bKash has distributed 50,000 books to 74 organisations, including schools and voluntary organisations working for underprivileged and disadvantaged children, in a bid to cultivate a reading habit among them.

Non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) will have to take permission from the central bank to lend to their subsidiaries or associates and waive loans or interests.   

The document verification system (DVS) will bring some positive changes to the country’s accounting system and overall economy as it will ensure greater transparency, according to economist Ahsan H Mansur.

Humayun Rashid has been re-elected as president of the International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) for the second consecutive term.

Television broadcasts of local channels could be disrupted for a total of 81 minutes from tomorrow to October 7 as the sun could be in direct line with Bangabandhu Satellite-1, disrupting the signal of the satellite.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has recently directed International Internet Gateway (IIG) service providers to disconnect bandwidth connections of 316 internet service providers (ISPs) for not renewing licences and not taking approval of tariffs before rolling out their services.

Bangladesh will export around 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India marking upcoming Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community scheduled to be held next month. 

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has once again sought cooperation from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to extend the validity of trade and other business relevant licences to three to five years from the current one year.

Improved varieties of crops and production technologies developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) should be quickly sent to farmers to ensure development in the sector, according to Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.

Turnover on the Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges declined significantly yesterday owing to the lower participation of investors amid persisting uncertainty although the bourses ended the week in positive territory.  

A water treatment plant set up near the Patenga silo jetty was  inaugurated yesterday to purify 3 million gallons daily from the  Karnaphuli river and meet shortages at 148 factories in Chattogram  Export Processing Zone (CEPZ). 

Paper Processing & Packaging Limited’s profit surged more than 244 per cent year-on-year in the financial year that ended on June 30. 

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has sought investment from Turkey and greater market access to the country in order to boost bilateral trade between the two nations.

Bangladesh Monospool Paper Manufacturing Company Limited’s profit jumped more than 343 per cent year-on-year in the financial year that ended on June 30, 2022. 

Citizens Bank PLC has been given the approval to work as a primary dealer for a year, said the central bank yesterday. 

Planning Minister MA Mannan has said that the price of essentials or inflation cannot be reduced using sticks and stones or by using force.

The International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (ILFSL) has taken initiatives to revive the four companies owned by PK Halder in order to recover its funds given out to them.