Akanda Muhammad Jahid

Digital and Multimedia Journalist @The Daily Star, Bangladesh II 10 years of experience II Expertise in: Digital News Content Creation II Fact Checking II Data Analysis II Social Media Management II SEO

Tk 761,785 crore budget unveiled

The proposed budget will be 15.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the budget speech of the finance minister.

2d ago

Grameen UNIQLO to wind up operations in Bangladesh

Grameen UNIQLO, a clothing brand, has said it is going to close all of its outlets in Bangladesh, more than a decade after it began its journey in the country.

3w ago

‘I risked my life but couldn’t save anything from fire’

“I risked my life to enter my shop despite the fire but could not save anything,” said Md Babul, a seller of baby cloth items at the New Super Market.

Non-food expenditure up, food costs down

Non-food expenditure of households has increased in Bangladesh in the past six years compared to expenses aimed at food purchases, data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed.

Monthly household income doubles in 6 years

The average monthly household income in Bangladesh rose to Tk 32,422 in 2022, up more than 102 per cent from six years ago, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

How slow is Bangladesh border for exports?

The World Bank has found out that the exporters need around 300 hours to meet the border and documentary compliance requirements in Bangladesh, whereas the time comes down to 60 hours in India and 30 hours in China.

What is Bangladesh’s brand value?

In term of brand value among the South Asian countries, Bangladesh stands second after India while the brand values of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal are respectively $232 billion, $48 billion and $29 billion

Who have highest/lowest bank deposits in Bangladesh?

Dhaka division’s 4.19 crore people in 13 districts have stored in banks a total of Tk 9.79 lakh crore, around 85 per cent of which, or Tk 8.32 lakh crore, belong to the people living inside Dhaka district alone.

Bangladesh slips in digital readiness indicator

Shows the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2023

Taming inflation, maintaining exchange rate stability critical: BB

The major challenges for Bangladesh will be keeping inflation under control while maintaining currency rate stability in the coming days, according to the Bangladesh Bank's annual report.

High inflation rate may persist throughout FY23

The current level of high inflation rate may persist throughout the ongoing fiscal year, according to a forecast of the Bangladesh Bank.

Bangladesh’s biggest problem ahead is political crisis: MM Akash

Bangladesh’s economic situation may worsen thanks to internal reasons mainly political crisis that will appear in the days to come rather than the external factors, said MM Akash, economics professor of Dhaka University.

Cash recycling machines gaining traction

Cash recycling machines (CRMs), set up by banks in Bangladesh to help clients deposit, withdraw and transfer money instantly, almost doubled in the last financial year.   

Agent banking accounts keep growing

Transactions through agent banking accounts rose 43 per cent year-on-year to Tk 5,64,844 crore in fiscal year 2021-22 as a growing number of people are now using the new banking window, showed Bangladesh Bank data.

Refiners want soybean up Tk 20 a litre

Edible oil processors have proposed a hike of Tk 20 per litre in the price of soybean oil on the ground of the significant depreciation of the taka, which has raised their import cost.

Edible oil processors want Tk20 a litre hike in soybean oil

Edible oil processors in Bangladesh have proposed the government raise the price of soybean oil by Tk 20 per litre, according to processors and officials of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC).

Jute, jute goods exports fall for soaring shipping costs

Exports of jute and jute goods from Bangladesh declined in the last fiscal year due to the unprecedented surge in shipping costs and the higher price of raw fibres.

125 firms to import 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice

The government has permitted 125 companies to import a total of 246,000 tonnes of rice in order to cool down the domestic market for the staple grain in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh to import 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice

The government has permitted 125 companies to import a total of 246,000 tonnes of rice in order to cool down the domestic market for the staple grain in Bangladesh.

‘More than a bridge’

If Padma Bridge adds at least one percentage point to GDP, it will contribute $4.24 billion to the economy annually, which is higher than the total cost of the bridge, said Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh.

Stamp duties to increase up to 300pc

The rate of stamp duty, which has been unchanged for a decade, is going to increase by up to 300 percent from the next fiscal year as the government aims to boost revenue collection from this source to finance part of its Tk 678,064 crore budget and keep borrowing within its target.

5.6% inflation target set for FY2022-23

The government has set a 5.6 per cent inflation target in the proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year although the prices of essentials and other commodities are persisting at higher levels.

GDP growth target set at 7.5%

The Bangladesh government has set a target of 7.5 per cent growth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the upcoming fiscal year of 2022-23 beginning from July.

Revenue collection target set at Tk 433,000 crore

The government has set a target to collect Tk 433,000 crore as revenue in the upcoming 2022-23 fiscal year.

Budget deficit Tk 245,064 crore

The overall budget deficit for the fiscal year 2022-23 will be Tk 245,064 crore, or 5.5 percent of GDP, said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in his budget speech today.

Tk 678,064 crore budget unveiled

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal unveiled a proposed budget of Tk 678,064 crore for 2022-23 fiscal year in the national parliament today.

Rains, floods batter Boro cultivation

Natural calamities, including the recent flash floods in haor areas caused by heavy rain amid cyclone Ashani, have damaged the production of 78,987 tonnes of boro rise this season, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Mango growers fear lower yield

Yusuf Ali, a mango grower in Chapainawabganj, did not benefit much despite having an ample yield last year as the price of the popular fruit was unusually low due to the lockdown-induced disruption.

Farmers not showing interest to sell wheat to the state at lower price

The government is struggling to fulfil the target of wheat procurement from the domestic market this season as growers are not showing interest to sell the food grain to the state at a lower price.

Soybean oil solely off foreign seeds

Many of you, who know about the cultivation of soybean in Bangladesh, might think that the production of the oilseed contributes to meeting the country’s demand for edible oil to some extent.

Edible oil prices go up again

In spite of the government fixing edible oil prices recently, the prices of loose soybean oil and palm oil have gone up at both retail and wholesale markets due to a supply crisis.

Edible oil prices: Hike on despite the tax cuts

The prices of edible oil have gone up at the wholesale level yesterday despite the 30 percent tax exemption at the import and production stages.

Now eggs become costlier

Consumers in Bangladesh who are already struggling to make ends meet following the recent rise in prices of various daily essentials are now being compelled to spend more on eggs and broiler chicken meat, the low-cost sources of protein.

Farmers to get smart cards

The government is going to introduce smart cards for farmers with an aim to provide area-based and demand-based agricultural services.

Rice price high despite new crop, ample imports

Rice prices have remained high in Bangladesh despite ample supply of the grain as farmers harvest the second biggest Aman crop, giving low-income groups a hard time amid persisting economic uncertainty. 

Onion prices shoot up

The retail price of onion has gone up to Tk 80 per kg in city kitchen markets, putting the low and middle income people, already reeling from Covid-19 fallout, under more financial pressure.

Refiners seek yet another hike of edible oil price

Not even a month has gone by yet edible oil refiners are again proposing hiking prices for the fourth time this year, reasoning it to be a ripple effect of international rates.

Potato prices soar on depleting stocks

In line with the spiralling cost of other daily essentials, the retail price of potato rose sharply by 39 per cent.

Strike of goods transporters taking toll on trade

Though the strike involving public transport was withdrawn on Sunday evening, the owners and workers of vehicles engaged in transporting goods continued to enforce their countrywide protest as of yesterday evening, taking a toll on export, import and trade.

Losses pile up for traders, exporters

Losses piled up for local traders and exporters yesterday as goods could not move owing to the countrywide transport strike.

Rising Prices of Essentials: Misery piles up on the poor, middle class

Prices of many daily essentials, especially vegetables, have shot up further in the kitchen markets after transport workers enforced a strike and increased their fees in carrying goods to protest the recent fuel price hike.

Export earnings rise on volume-driven growth

Bangladesh’s exports hit a historic high of $4.73 billion in October with a 60.37 per cent year-on-year increase riding on the stunning rebound of readymade and non-readymade garment shipment.

‘Export earnings rise riding on volume-driven growth’

Bangladesh’s exports hit a historic high of $4.73 billion in October with a 60.37 per cent year-on-year increase riding on the stunning rebound of readymade and non-readymade garment shipment.

Weakening exchange rate driving down remittance flows

The flow of remittance to Bangladesh has been shrinking for the last several months as the number of people going abroad in search of jobs is declining and money transfers through informal channels like hundi have made a comeback with the ease of pandemic restrictions.

Weakening exchange rate driving down remittance flow: Debapriya

The inflow of remittance has been shrinking since the last several months as the number of people, going abroad, is decreasing and money transfers through informal channels like hundi are increasing with the ease of pandemic restrictions.

Farmers supply two-thirds of their crops to markets

Farmers in Bangladesh sell most of their crops to meet their financial needs after keeping a small portion for the consumption of their families, according to a new survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

39.5 lakh trading firms contribute 14pc to GDP

About 39.47 lakh establishments engaged in wholesale and retail trade, including motorcycle repair shops, contribute around 14 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a survey of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

Fast-track projects back in fast lane

Although fast-track projects had previously witnessed slow implementation for various reasons including the pandemic, they are now progressing gradually, according to a report.

June 1, 2023
June 1, 2023

Tk 761,785 crore budget unveiled

The proposed budget will be 15.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the budget speech of the finance minister.

May 11, 2023
May 11, 2023

Grameen UNIQLO to wind up operations in Bangladesh

Grameen UNIQLO, a clothing brand, has said it is going to close all of its outlets in Bangladesh, more than a decade after it began its journey in the country.

April 15, 2023
April 15, 2023

‘I risked my life but couldn’t save anything from fire’

“I risked my life to enter my shop despite the fire but could not save anything,” said Md Babul, a seller of baby cloth items at the New Super Market.

April 12, 2023
April 12, 2023

Non-food expenditure up, food costs down

Non-food expenditure of households has increased in Bangladesh in the past six years compared to expenses aimed at food purchases, data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed.

April 12, 2023
April 12, 2023

Monthly household income doubles in 6 years

The average monthly household income in Bangladesh rose to Tk 32,422 in 2022, up more than 102 per cent from six years ago, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

April 9, 2023
April 9, 2023

How slow is Bangladesh border for exports?

The World Bank has found out that the exporters need around 300 hours to meet the border and documentary compliance requirements in Bangladesh, whereas the time comes down to 60 hours in India and 30 hours in China.

April 2, 2023
April 2, 2023

What is Bangladesh’s brand value?

In term of brand value among the South Asian countries, Bangladesh stands second after India while the brand values of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal are respectively $232 billion, $48 billion and $29 billion

March 28, 2023
March 28, 2023

Who have highest/lowest bank deposits in Bangladesh?

Dhaka division’s 4.19 crore people in 13 districts have stored in banks a total of Tk 9.79 lakh crore, around 85 per cent of which, or Tk 8.32 lakh crore, belong to the people living inside Dhaka district alone.

February 9, 2023
February 9, 2023

Bangladesh slips in digital readiness indicator

Shows the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2023

January 17, 2023
January 17, 2023

Taming inflation, maintaining exchange rate stability critical: BB

The major challenges for Bangladesh will be keeping inflation under control while maintaining currency rate stability in the coming days, according to the Bangladesh Bank's annual report.