State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam today (July 21, 2022) proposed forming a new authority – either a ministry or a division under a ministry -- to help tap the potentials of blue economy that remains untapped.

“In certain haor areas of Sylhet, one bad season, one flash flood is all it takes for a farmer to lose everything.

Locally manufactured electric products, namely transformers and accumulators, are gaining popularity abroad as the industry’s annual export earnings touched a record-high of $100 million in the just concluded fiscal year.

Stocks of Bangladesh Monospool Paper Manufacturing Company have skyrocketed in the last one year just after it had been relisted from the over the counter (OTC) market to the main board, all throughout riding on rumours and speculations. 

The Chattogram port is facing a fresh surge in both container and cargo congestion mainlydue to slow delivery of goods for ten days since the Eid vacation, disrupting scheduled departure and berthing of vessels.

Bangladesh is targeting a lower export growth in 2022-23 despite raking in a record $52.08 billion in the last fiscal year largely because of insignificant strides in products and markets diversification and ongoing global turmoil. 

Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Idcol) yesterday signed an agreement to receive $256.5 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to promote private sector investment through large-scale adoption of energy-efficient technologies in the textile and garment sectors. 

Bangladesh Bank yesterday asked banks to provide the financial services required for clients to invest in savings bonds and instruments.

Privately-owned BM Container Depot had been running without proper authorisation and certification required for storing and handling hazardous chemicals, found a study of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

The Geneva Package has been agreed upon after a long and painful debate and sleepless nights overrunning more than 48 hours on June 17, 2022. World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala termed it an unprecedented package of deliverables.  

The progress in using concrete blocks instead of bricks for all public development projects has been sluggish as government agencies have made little efforts in this regard due to lax monitoring by the relevant authorities, according to experts.

It’s rainy reason in Bangladesh and agricultural land is supposed to be wet with monsoon rains by now.  

Inflation raced to a nine-year high of 7.56 percent in June, in a development that lays bare the extent of the cost of living crisis gripping the low-income and middle-class people in Bangladesh thanks to a war taking place some 5,800 kilometres away in Ukraine.

The Bangladesh Bank yesterday extended the increased borrowing limit from the Export Development Fund (EDF) for textile millers and garment makers to December 31 this year. 

Government spending on projects under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) rebounded in fiscal 2021-22 following a two-year disruption caused by Covid-19 but the implementation rate it is still slow compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Industrial unit owners of different sectors have demanded that the government provide them immunity from blackouts or load shedding 

Bangladesh Bank yesterday unveiled a Tk 25,000 crore refinance scheme for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) in order to increase their access to finances.   

The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) will start monitoring the market from today to ensure that no trader can sell edible oil at prices higher than the newly reduced rates, which come into effect on July 18. 

Like in any other developing country, all public interest projects in Bangladesh are supposed to be well thought out with their ultimate impacts reviewed. However, courtesy of the media, even the state investigation agencies, we mostly don’t get to hear good things about projects being well-researched, the ultimate impact on the target market or group well-thought out, finance being well-managed or done with sincerity of purpose. 

Although tea production has expanded in Bangladesh over the past decade, outbound shipments of the once major export earner have dropped at the same time in the face of growing domestic demand, according to market players.