Business Multimedia
Why did profits fall for local, foreign banks in 2021?
The Daily Star analysed the financial statements of local and foreign banks operating in Bangladesh. The data shows most of the big banks’ profits waned in 2021 compared to the previous year due to mainly two reasons -- lower interest rate and higher non-performing loans.
21 April 2022, 17:04 PM
How ready is Bangladesh for LDC graduation?
Bangladesh will lose all its benefits of being an underdeveloped country when it graduates to a developing country -- with the garments sector being hit one of the hardest.
19 April 2022, 15:21 PM
Is the ADB telling Bangladesh to learn from Sri Lanka’s mistakes?
What is the possibility of Bangladesh ending up in an economic disaster like that of Sri Lanka? This has been the topic of discussion on social media of late. ADB economists have advised Bangladesh to build a more robust macroeconomic management, internal revenue collection, as well as credit management policies.
16 April 2022, 15:31 PM
Will Bangladesh’s garment exports to Russia stop due to war?
Bangladeshi garment exporters to Russia did not see the eastern European country’s war with Ukraine coming. They became really worried about their payments from Russian buyers when the US government and the European Union started imposing bans to hamper Russia’s foreign transactions. Even bans were slapped on the use of airspaces. Moreover, the Biden administration took steps to cut off Russia's central bank from US dollar transactions.
12 April 2022, 15:04 PM
Millenia-old wooden shipbuilding, boat-making industry of Chattogram
In the Middle Ages, Chattogram was one of the major hubs for the wooden shipbuilding industry. Ships from Chattogram used to be exported to places like Egypt, Turkey, and Germany.
6 April 2022, 03:14 AM
Are people losing interest in bank shares?
There was a time when people were interested in bank shares. Prices of bank shares were quite high due to the demand.
30 March 2022, 02:54 AM
Why is nobody claiming Tk 35 crore prize bond winnings?
Nobody is claiming Tk 35 crore prize bond winnings from Bangladesh Bank.
28 March 2022, 03:33 AM
How most of the state-owned banks fell in capital shortfall
According to information from December last year, Bangladesh Krishi, Janata, Agrani, Sonali, Rupali, BASIC, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan, Bangladesh Commerce, ICB Islamic and National Bank are in a capital shortfall which totals Tk 34,630 crores.
23 March 2022, 15:00 PM
Is rationing the solution to soaring grocery prices?
Prices of essentials are still rising uncontrollably - pushing lower income households further into dread, over passing another day. To tackle the situation, the government is now conducting OMS and TCB truck sales all over the country. But, words are floating around that bringing back a ration system for essentials is the solution at hand.
21 March 2022, 15:11 PM
How is the Russia-Ukraine conflict affecting Bangladesh economy?
The distance from Bangladesh to Russia is about 4,300km and to Ukraine it is about 6,000km. So how did the conflict between these two Eastern European countries, even from so far away, increase the prices of oil, wheat, and many other food grains in the market of Bangladesh? What will be the effect of the international sanctions imposed on Russian banks or this economic war on the economy of Bangladesh?
17 March 2022, 17:16 PM
Cashew helping women of hills become self-sufficient
There are lines of cashew trees on the hills of Rangamati and Bandarban. Cashew farming started in the 60s but the production has grown exponentially recently.
17 March 2022, 04:00 AM
Price of soybean oil skyrockets ahead of Ramadan
Every year before Ramadan, along with all other essential commodities, both the demand and the price of soybean oil increase in Bangladesh. But since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war the price of soybean oil has increased more than the developed world. How are the public suffering from this price hike? Is the war responsible for this increased price? Is there a way to stop this inflation?
10 March 2022, 15:54 PM
Universal pension scheme for all
The government is set to launch a retirement fund for Bangladeshi citizens aged 18-50 years. Khondoker Md Shoyeb explains the nitty-gritty of the matter at today's Star Explains.
9 March 2022, 17:13 PM
Will prices of commodities soar again in Ramadan?
Daily essentials like edible oil, sugar, and lentils have already become more expensive. Experts fear a further price hike in upcoming Ramadan, as some unscrupulous traders take advantage around this time every year. What is the government doing to keep the daily essentials affordable?
2 March 2022, 17:05 PM
What potential does Bangladesh have in exporting uniforms?
The global uniform manufacturing industry for the Military, Navy, Fire Brigade and police is worth $ 370 billion. Bangladesh exports approximately $ 500-$ 600 million worth of technical clothing or uniforms every year. Which countries and under what conditions does Bangladesh export these uniforms? What is the potential for Bangladesh in this international uniform market?
17 February 2022, 15:00 PM
Why are public private partnerships failing to tidy up mega projects?
The government of Bangladesh has been turning to Public Private Partnership for a total of 78 projects till date - including Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Dhaka Hi Tech City, Mirsarai Economic Zone, etc. As of 2022, only one project has been completed.
5 February 2022, 15:01 PM
Bangladesh Bank to lift bar on investing abroad
Not long ago, Bangladeshi companies were not allowed to invest abroad. In 2014, a Bangladeshi company was given permission to make such an investment for the first time. Only 16 organisations have had this opportunity so far. However, according to a guideline published by Bangladesh Bank on January 27, any Bangladeshi company will be able to open sister concerns abroad.
1 February 2022, 15:18 PM
Why prepaid gas meters remain unpopular even with significantly low bills?
It has been almost a decade since the government initiated prepaid gas metres. Those who have installed the prepaid metres have claimed that their minimal bills have been almost halved compared to traditional gas lines.
23 January 2022, 15:08 PM
Are single-screen cinema halls going extinct in Bangladesh?
Every district town and divisional city in the country has movie theatres. Around 80% of the industry’s workforce have changed professions in the last 10 years. Most of the cinema hall owners have demolished the buildings and started developing multi-storey shopping complexes instead.
20 January 2022, 17:01 PM
Woven garment exports hit record high in Dec 2021
Bangladesh has ramped up its woven garment exports in recent months. The garments industry exported goods worth USD 1.86 billion in woven garments in December 2021 -- the highest recorded amount. From April 2020 to July 2021, woven garments export fell drastically due to the pandemic. How did this export boom start again?
13 January 2022, 15:04 PM