Jagaran Chakma

Bangladesh is on track to retain its status as the world’s biggest cotton importer in the marketing year (MY) 2025-26, with imports projected to reach 8.5 million bales, according to a record-setting forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram has gained momentum nearly a decade after its initiation, as Dhaka and Beijing look to strengthen bilateral ties and punishing Trump tariffs prompt Chinese manufacturers to consider relocating factories.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports rose by 3.46 percent year-on-year in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, despite a sharp drop in April due mainly to holidays in key markets and US aid cuts hurting merchandise shipments. 

The Chief Adviser’s Office has recently formed an eight-member committee to assess the proposed merger of several investment-related agencies under the single umbrella of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).

Regulations in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) are limiting housing responses to meet Dhaka’s growing accommodation needs, according to realtors, as they argue that current urban policies are doing more harm than good.

The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) aims to strike a balance between development and sustainability of Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), as it says relaxing DAP guidelines to favour real estate interests would cause long-term consequences to the liveability of the megacity.

Just five days after issuing a gazette notification imposing export fees on raw jute and jute products, the government has withdrawn the order to review the decision, following strong concerns from industry stakeholders over what they described as an excessive hike.

Best Holdings Ltd is set to open the first five-star hotel in Bangladesh’s industrial belt by June 2026, introducing luxury hospitality to Bhaluka in Mymensingh district.