Exports dip in first half of current fiscal year
Exports of light engineering equipment, including stainless-steel and iron ware, from Bangladesh have decreased in the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period the year before.
Gas price hike spells trouble for industries
The latest hike of gas prices undoubtedly spells trouble for industries as they will try to shift the burden onto consumers by raising product prices, which will boomerang onto them by eating away at their competitiveness in international markets.
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.
‘Fresh gas price hike to raise cost of production’
The latest gas price hike will increase the cost of production in the country, Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, told The Daily Star.
MFS transactions drop in November
Transactions through mobile financial services (MFS) have decreased slightly in November last year compared to that in the preceding month, showed the latest data of Bangladesh Bank (BB).
Plight of small businesses only deepens
Mohammad Sohel was dusting off the shelves in his shop at the Muktijoddha Supermarket in Mirpur 1 on Wednesday afternoon as no shopper was present. In fact, he did not record any sales on the day although some shoppers did turn out.
Paper export doubles
Bangladesh’s export of paper and paper products have risen 123.35 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the current fiscal year thanks to the post-pandemic recovery and manufacturers’ focus on finding new export destinations.
Comforter-quilt market expands as lifestyle changes
Consumers in Bangladesh are increasingly switching to comforters, quilts and blankets from traditional duvets in order to stay warm throughout the chillier winter nights and amid a change in lifestyle, drawing a substantial investments and big companies to the segment.
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.
Inflation falls for 4th month
Although the inflation rate in Bangladesh has maintained a downward trend for the past four months, it is still high enough to affect those living in the middle-income category and below, experts say.