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
Blow for private economic zones, hi-tech parks as tax benefits go
Currently, investors in the EZs and hi-tech parks qualify for a tax break for a decade starting from the first year of their operations. They are entitled to a full tax waiver in the first three years.
11 June 2024, 00:16 AM
Solutions not offered
The proposed budget for 2024-25 lacks creativity and offers no solutions to the many complex challenges facing the country’s economy, economists have said.
6 June 2024, 18:00 PM
Only 10% of planned economic zones get off the ground in a decade
Only 10 economic zones (EZs) have become operational since the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) rolled out its massive industrialisation plan in 2015, raising questions about whether its goal of setting up 100 enclaves will be materialised on time.
30 May 2024, 00:30 AM
EVs, locally assembled cars steal the show
Locally assembled cars and the range of electric vehicles (EVs) offered by Mercedes-Benz were the main attraction during the 17th Dhaka Motor Show at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center on Friday.
25 May 2024, 18:06 PM
Challenges abound for aspiring entrepreneurs
Ashit Chowdhury, managing director of AAPON, a manufacturer of shataranji and various jute home decor products, applied for a loan of Tk 30 lakh from a private commercial bank.
24 May 2024, 18:00 PM
SMEs come together in a show of strength
Imagine walking into a shop and finding products that are identical to those at branded outlets but are being sold for only a fraction of the price levied by the well-known companies.
24 May 2024, 18:00 PM
Four steelmakers control 53% of the market: study
Although there are around 40 steelmakers in Bangladesh, just four based in Chattogram are currently catering to 53 percent of the total demand, according to market studies and industry insiders.
19 May 2024, 18:06 PM
Govt brings down ADP for a lack of fund
The government is currently faced with a lack of funds, evidenced by a reduction in allocations it provided from the exchequer for the upcoming Annual Development Programme (ADP), said Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue.
19 May 2024, 02:00 AM
Too much of cement: production capacity outstrips demand
Competition in the cement industry of Bangladesh could become even narrower as smaller producers are at risk of going out of business due to overcapacity in production and increasingly higher input costs.
16 May 2024, 18:05 PM
Steel consumption to increase 25% by 2027: study
Steel consumption in Bangladesh is projected to rise by 25 percent to around 1.06 crore tonnes in 2027 from 85 lakh tonnes in 2024 thanks to growing infrastructure development projects and individual consumption, according to Bigmint.
15 May 2024, 03:00 AM
Retailers, brands flock to Uttara
The consumer market in Uttara, a planned suburb in Dhaka city, has witnessed steady growth over the years, prompting many retailers and brands to expand their operations in the area.
10 May 2024, 18:00 PM
Uttara: A city within a city
Before the 90s, Uttara offered little aside from open fields of green and waterlogged land.
10 May 2024, 18:00 PM
Beyond Dollar: Bangladesh to seek over 36b yuan in Chinese loans
Bangladesh is going to seek more than 36 billion yuan, equivalent to $5 billion, as soft loans from China to reduce pressure on its dollar reserves.
7 May 2024, 18:00 PM
State-run oil companies see double-digit profit growth
The three state-run oil companies in Bangladesh booked double-digit growth in profits during the first nine months of the current fiscal year even after a decline in sales mainly due to a rise in income from bank deposit interests.
6 May 2024, 18:30 PM
Efficient use of AC can reduce electricity bills: experts
However, although ACs provide a much-needed respite from the heat, the home appliance also draws a lot of power, leading to higher electricity bills and putting a further strain on people who are already suffering due to heightened inflation.
29 April 2024, 00:17 AM
API production falls short
While Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector has exceeded expectations and surpassed many comparator countries, the industry’s reliance on imports for raw materials has long been a limiting factor.
26 April 2024, 18:00 PM
Starting from nowhere, pharma sector becomes a lifesaver
The year 1982 was a watershed in the history of the pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh as the government stepped in to lay the foundation for its stellar growth in the subsequent decades.
26 April 2024, 18:00 PM
Aziz Mohammad Bhai buys 27 lakh new shares of Olympic Industries
He now holds 17 percent or Tk 499 crore worth of shares of the company
22 April 2024, 14:04 PM
MGI expands ceramic tiles production with $45m investment
Of the investment, $19 million came from its own pockets whereas $26 million in the form of a syndicated loan, which was released recently, he said.
19 April 2024, 00:54 AM
Wood plastic composites gaining popularity
Wood plastic composites in the form of kitchen cabinets, bathroom and balcony doors are slowly gaining popularity in Bangladesh for being an alternative to wood, according to industry insiders and realtors.
18 April 2024, 03:05 AM