Mohammad Suman

Container imports to be duty-free

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has proposed a duty-free facility for containers carrying import and export goods in 2023-24 fiscal year.

3d ago

NBR proposes withdrawing duties on 425 import items

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has proposed withdrawing supplementary duty (SD) on 234 imported goods and regulatory duty (RD) on 191 imported goods in fiscal year 2023-24 to aid Bangladesh’s graduation from a least developed country (LDC) to a developing one by 2026.

3d ago

Ginger retailing fourfold the import price

Chattogram-based Asia Enterprise received a consignment of 59,580 kilogrammes (kg) of fresh ginger through the Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf land port on May 12.

1w ago

Baggage tax on gold likely to be same as import

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is planning to increase the amount of tax payable for gold brought in under baggage rules in order to encourage legal import of gold and use of legal channels for remittance transfers.

2w ago

No gas in Ctg for 2 days

Gas supply has been suspended in Chattogram’s residential areas, filling stations, and industries for two consecutive days, causing significant sufferings to city dwellers.

3w ago

Gold smugglers game the system

International smugglers are bringing gold bars into Bangladesh through legal means and then smuggling those to India.

4w ago

Sugar prices soar for supply shortage

Sugar prices have risen at wholesale and retail markets in Dhaka and Chattogram due to an ongoing supply crunch.

Govt to buy 12,500 tonnes of sugar from US firm

Sugar price jumps by Tk 20 a kg in 2 weeks

Within two weeks, the price of sugar increased by Tk 20 per kg at retail.

Fan sales soar as heatwave continues

The demand for electric fans has increased significantly in Bangladesh as the scorching summer heat has become nigh unbearable in recent times.

Chemical exports hit a snag

Exports of chemical or dangerous goods are being hampered due to a lack of minimum facilities in all inland container depots (ICDs) of the country, according to exporters.

Sugar price hike an effect of global market

Sugar prices have reached a record high internationally, which has had a ripple effect on Bangladesh’s wholesale markets, including those in Dhaka and Chattogram.

Elite Paint imports ‘Product of Bangladesh’ from India

Elite Paint, one of the oldest decorative paint manufacturers in the country, brought in about three and a half tonnes of finished paint from India in cans with the ‘Product of Bangladesh’ stamp -- a move that violates the customs act and country-of-origin rules.

Customs detects Tk 382cr money laundering thru RMG exports

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) has unearthed that four Dhaka-based apparel exporters laundered Tk 382 crore using fake documents.

Sugar price keeps rising though import duty goes

Sugar prices have maintained an upward trend at both wholesale and retail levels in Bangladesh despite a record cut in import duties to keep the market stable ahead of Ramadan.

Sugar price keeps rising though import duty goes

Sugar prices have maintained an upward trend at both wholesale and retail levels in Bangladesh despite a record cut in import duties to keep the market stable ahead of Ramadan.

Goods transport thru Dhaka-Ctg railway halved

Cargo shipments to and from Chattogram port via railways have halved as import-export activities have fallen sharply amid the ongoing US dollar crisis, according to official sources.

Sitakunda oxygen plant blast: Lax monitoring, lack of safety gear to blame

The absence of workers’ safety equipment and a lack of inspections of heavy machinery are to blame for Sunday’s explosion at the Sheema Oxygen Plant in Sitakunda’s Keshabpur, said probe officials

Sugar’s duty cut yet to bring any benefit to retail market

Consumers in Bangladesh are still paying higher prices for sugar although a week has passed since the National Board of Revenue (NBR) removed the import duty on both raw and refined sweetener.

6 killed as blast rips thru oxygen plant

Six people were killed and at least 30 others injured in an explosion at an industrial oxygen plant in Sitakunda, Chattogram, yesterday afternoon.

Chemical, combustible exports halted once again

The export of chemical and combustible products from Bangladesh has been halted once again as the only depot designated by the Chattogram customs authority to handle dangerous goods has failed to maintain the minimum safety standards.

Only 3.6% SME stimulus loans provided in Ctg

Small-scale enterprises of Chattogram are facing a crisis of capital in operating their business while banks have disbursed only 3.6 per cent of the loans allotted under a government stimulus package for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises.

Imports thru Ctg port fall as expenditures rise

Imports through Chattogram port fell 2.5 per cent year-on-year in the first six months of the current fiscal as rising US dollar prices pushed up the overall costs involved, according to traders.

Ramadan items already costlier

The price of the most-consumed items during Ramadan such as chickpeas, dried peas and dates has increased in the wholesale markets in Dhaka and Chattogram due to a supply shortage, two months before the fasting month begins.

No visible step from BB to ease importers’ woes

The Bangladesh Bank is yet to take any visible measure in line with a commerce ministry directive aimed at asking banks to earmark a portion of their foreign currency holdings to open letters of credit to import essentials ahead of Ramadan.

20 goods account for 51pc of total import spending

Of all the money spent behind the 4,500 types of goods imported through the Chattogram port in the first five months of fiscal year 2022-23, more than 51 per cent or Tk 104,600 crore was spent for only 20 products.

Ctg port halts release of late Sajeda Chy’s imported car

The National Board of Revenue appears to be in a dilemma over releasing an imported luxury car under the duty-free facility in the name of the former leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury.

Imports of key essentials drop for dollar crunch

The import of essentials such as edible oil, chickpeas, dried peas and sugar fell in July-November as traders face difficulties in opening letters of credit (LCs) to purchase the items from international markets amid the US dollar shortage.

Standard Asiatic Oil corruption: Eight employees siphon out Tk 21.64cr

Eight officials of Standard Asiatic Oil (SAOCL), a subsidiary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, have embezzled Tk 21.64 crore by showing advance cost and fake bill vouchers, found investigations by the Directorate of Power and Energy Audit and BPC.

Bepza moves to stop use of fake import permits

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) has taken a number of steps, including connecting to customs management software, to prevent the use of fake import permits following the detection of such malpractices this year.

NBR Server Breach: Safeguards not working

At least three import consignments were released without inspection from the Chattogram Port using the login credentials of a top customs official in June-July despite the recent measures taken to thwart such cons that cost the state coffer in unpaid duties and taxes.

DDT disposal starts finally

Finally, about 500 tonnes of DDT pesticide, which is extremely harmful to the environment, will be shipped to France to properly dispose of the substance.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel

Another dream coming true

The construction of the country’s first under-river tunnel has reached a major milestone after the completion of a tube, a success Bangladesh Bridge Authority will celebrate today with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joining the programme virtually.

Ctg customs demand Tk 5,227cr from Petrobangla in unpaid duties

The Chattogram Customs House has demanded Tk 5,227 crore as unpaid duties from Bangladesh Oil, Gas & Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) against 89 consignments of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar

The coast of Mirsharai, an upazila in the southeast division of Chattogram, wakes up in the morning to the sounds of under-construction factories, and machines of several newly-built plants on a vast part of the region.

Fresh strain on consumers

Consumers suffered a fresh blow yesterday as commodity processors raised the prices of edible oil and sugar by up to Tk 13 per kg.

Import of cement raw materials goes up despite dollar shortage

The import of raw materials used in manufacturing cement rose 17 per cent year-on-year in the July-October period of the current financial year of 2022-23 despite the US dollar crunch.

Sugar prices hit record high

Sugar prices have started rising afresh to hit a record high of as much as Tk 125 per kilogramme at retail in the two main cities of Bangladesh, namely Dhaka and Chattogram, further straining the wallets of consumers as inflation continues to bite.

A BPC concern robs state coffers of Tk 472.7cr

The government has been deprived of Tk 472.7 crore for 21 counts of irregularities by Standard Asiatic Oil Company, a subsidiary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, found an audit.

Fresh blow to consumers as wheat flour prices jump

The price of wheat flour has increased in retail markets due to a decrease in imports and rise in international market prices, dealing a fresh blow to the people who are already struggling to make their ends meet.

Customs approves sale of 71 luxury cars

Chattogram Custom House has approved the handover of 71 luxury cars to the highest bidders at an auction for a total of just Tk 12.53 crore even though the vehicles have a combined market value of Tk 114 crore.

Seven reasons behind the sugar crisis

The Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection has identified seven reasons behind the price hike and shortage of sugar, including gas crisis, not mentioning price in sales invoices and complications in opening letters of credit.

Gas crisis blamed for high price of sugar

Sugar has become dearer with prices going up by Tk 15 a kg at retail markets as millers cut supplies blaming insufficient gas flow at refineries.

Supply crunch fuels sugar price

Sugar prices have increased again in Dhaka and Chattogram amid a supply crunch.

Oil import for 2023: BPC gets nod to buy 54 lakh tonnes

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday granted Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation permission to import 54 lakh tonnes of oil next year in a bid to secure supply of the key commodity amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine and geopolitical tension.

Port activities delayed by NBR server glitch

Shipping agents are facing difficulties in submitting the registration number and import general manifest (IGM) against their vessels due to a glitch in the related server of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), leading to delays in import-export activities.