ILO ratification demands labour reforms in Bangladesh
The rights groups welcome the move as a long-overdue response to workers’ demands
23 October 2025, 12:59 PM
BBS still relies on paper for 60% of data
Economists advocate for autonomy, resources and expertise
19 October 2025, 18:51 PM
Business Plus / Between dreams and debt
Excessive recruitment fees, low salaries, and permit costs trap Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia
10 October 2025, 18:00 PM
It will take political govt at least 3 years to stabilise economy
Says DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed
4 October 2025, 20:10 PM
Business person of the year / From family business to global player
Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman and CEO of Pran-RFL Group, has been named the recipient of this year’s Business Person of the Year, one of the most prestigious accolades presented at the Bangladesh Business Awards.
1 October 2025, 18:00 PM
Lifetime achievement award / ‘Business people shouldn’t get into politics’
In an era when the lines between business and politics often blur, M Anis Ud Dowla, one of the most respected names in Bangladesh’s corporate history, offers a sharp counterpoint. The chairman of Advanced Chemical Industries (ACI) Ltd believes the two should remain firmly apart, and his own career stands as an argument for why.
1 October 2025, 18:00 PM
Opinion / Don't let Khagrachhari unrest pass silently
The crisis in Khagrachhari is rooted in deeper fractures.
30 September 2025, 04:00 AM
Tariff hurdles stall Bangladesh’s export growth in Malaysia
Despite strong diplomatic and economic ties, Bangladeshi exporters continue to face steep tariff and non-tariff barriers in the Malaysian market, constraining trade growth and widening the bilateral imbalance.
20 September 2025, 18:42 PM
Plans to set up economic zones in southwest yet to gather pace
The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) has taken the initiative to set up 17 economic zones in the southwestern part of
19 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Reconditioned vehicle import rises defying inflation, dollar crisis
Import and sale of reconditioned vehicles have increased in Bangladesh at a time when the country is suffering from high inflationary pressure and foreign currency crisis.
18 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Ceramics industry reeling from three-pronged assault
The ceramics industry has been desperately seeking respite from a spate of crises in recent months, but their woes have only deepened due to a worsening gas crisis.
15 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Foreigners working in Bangladesh rising
An increasing number of foreign nationals are seeking permits to work in Bangladesh because of a lack of skilled managers and an education system not tailored to meet industrialisation in the country.
15 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Will there be any uptick in investment after PM’s China visit?
There was an expectation that investment inflows from China to Bangladesh would increase substantially following the Covid-19 pandemic as investors in China were looking for an alternative manufacturing hub.
13 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Full-fledged cancer treatment facilities need of the hour
High-quality cancer drugs are produced in Bangladesh. Oncologists and physicians are also available. However, the country is lagging in putting in place an adequate number of full-fledged facilities to treat patients suffering from such diseases.
12 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Local pharma lights up hope in cancer treatment
The pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh has achieved many milestones over the past 14 years. Not only do local companies now meet 90 percent of the country’s demand for medicines, but the products are also exported to around 150 countries, fetching hundreds of millions of dollars.
12 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Construction of Chinese economic zone makes no progress in 8 years
Construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Chattogram has not started despite eight years having passed since the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) first took the initiative to build the enclave in a bid to attract foreign investment.
8 July 2024, 18:00 PM
PM’s visit to China: Dhaka to seek $20b fresh loans from Beijing
Bangladesh will seek fresh loans amounting to $20 billion during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to China, which Beijing hopes would be a “game changer” in the bilateral relationship.
3 July 2024, 18:00 PM
A bright spot: Govt project costs Tk 100cr less than estimate
There is a common allegation that the actual implementation costs of government projects inevitably exceed the estimated costs due to a number of reasons, including time extensions and unnecessary expenditures.
3 July 2024, 18:00 PM
Dhaka looks to Beijing for fresh loans
Talks on Chinese loan proposals will be at the fore during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Beijing.
30 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Phasing out tax holiday in EZs a violation of deals
Implementation of the budgetary proposal to phase out a tax holiday for investors and developers of private economic zones (EZs) will be a violation of agreements signed over developing the zones, according to the Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh.
26 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Two Indian SEZs saw no visible progress in over two years. Here’s why
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need for initiating operations fast at two special economic zones (SEZs) meant for Indian companies on meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Delhi on June 22.
24 June 2024, 18:00 PM
What’s in the budget to boost private investment?
The government’s target in the proposed budget for 2024-25 on increasing private sector investment is ambitious and will be difficult to achieve, said businesspeople and experts citing high bank interest rates and a shortage of US dollars.
23 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Refrigerator sales decline despite Eid
Sales of refrigerators and chest freezers declined by 13 percent ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as consumers contended with persistent inflationary pressures as well as an increase in the prices of the home appliances, according to industry players.
22 June 2024, 18:00 PM
A project for coffee and cashew nuts
Seeing the huge potential in agriculture, the government is implementing a Tk 211.84 crore project in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region to introduce modern technologies and enhance research initiatives with a view to promoting coffee and cashew nut cultivation.
21 June 2024, 18:00 PM
From Bare To Bountiful
“You are being transferred to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.”
21 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Bida identifies 814 vulnerable factories in 2nd phase
The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) has identified 814 more factories as risky under a countrywide initiative as the government looks to prevent avoidable fire incidents and other disasters.
21 June 2024, 00:00 AM
Full-scale rawhide trade yet to start
Full-scale rawhide procurement across the country has yet to begin due to rainfall and subsequent delays in animal sacrifices.
19 June 2024, 18:00 PM
State enterprises’ loan rising, so is govt guarantee
The government needs to provide guarantees against an increasing amount of loans of state-owned enterprises every fiscal year, especially for power generation, fertiliser and fuel imports, and aircraft purchases.
16 June 2024, 00:25 AM