New rates effective from today
Consumers are likely to pay more for a range of home appliances, from rice cookers and clothing irons to air conditioners (ACs), as the government phases out value-added tax (VAT) exemptions on locally manufactured electronics.
The government has introduced stricter regulations on the import of gold bars and ornaments under newly updated baggage rules while offering some leniency in other areas.
The country’s trade deficit narrowed by 2.60 percent in the first ten months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period a year ago, thanks to a rise in export earnings coupled with subdued imports.
The government’s latest tax measures are likely to put further strain on businesses, as tax burdens have increased even though economic recovery remains sluggish, experts warned yesterday.
The government has proposed a 3.55 percent rise in the budget allocation for agriculture, food, livestock and fisheries in the next fiscal year, setting aside Tk 39,620 crore.
Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) industry is the powerhouse of the national economy, accounting for nearly 85 percent of export earnings and employing millions, particularly women from vulnerable communities.
Shifts in US trade policy could hold back further progress in lowering inflation, a senior US central bank official said Tuesday, as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs ripple through the economy.
Indices of the Dhaka Stock Exchange rose on the last day of trading yesterday before the beginning of the Eid festival, recovering from the previous day’s losses.
Alongside existing exemptions for spouses, parents, and children, the government has proposed tax exemptions on donations made to siblings as part of its latest fiscal measures.
Chattogram Port has added to its fleet 15 new four-high straddle carriers, an essential type of container-handling equipment.
The government approved the purchase of 200 double-cabin pickups for the police and the import of 1.3 million tonnes of refined petroleum products to meet fuel demand in the second half of the year.
Bank branches in Dhaka experienced a massive surge in cash withdrawals and other banking transactions yesterday, the last working day before a 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday.
The Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) yesterday termed reform measures in the proposed national budget "positive" but warned that implementation of certain tax measures may lead to unintended burdens on industries and individuals.
Sonali Bank saw its earnings rise in 2024, driven by higher interest income.
The allocation for the power division in the national budget for fiscal year 2025-26 is around 30 percent less than that of the previous fiscal year, while it has been nearly doubled for the energy and mineral resources division. .The government has decided to cut electricity production c
The government has proposed a 3.55 percent rise in the budget allocation for agriculture, food, livestock and fisheries in the next fiscal year, setting aside Tk 39,620 crore..But agro-economists say the increase is far from sufficient to ensure the country’s long-term food security..<p
Other sectors will lose competitiveness if only one sector gets the benefit, the chamber says
The announcement came as a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment led by Minister Do Duc Duy, visited the United States.
Typically, the Fed holds interest rates at a higher level if inflation is elevated and when inflation is low
Trump late Tuesday signed an executive proclamation that puts into effect from Wednesday his surprise announcement last week that he was taking the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that had been in place since March to 50% from 25%.
Corruption remains a pervasive challenge across the country, undermining the effective implementation of the national budget, Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, special assistant to the chief adviser, said at a post-budget discussion yesterday.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates fewer than five billion air journeys will take place this year, compared with the previously forecast 5.22 billion.
Bangladesh recorded a sharp rise in remittance inflows in May, as migrant workers sent more money home in the run-up to Eid-ul-Azha, which falls in early June.
US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his call to “drill baby drill” and especially a decision by Opec+ to hike crude output quotas have oil prices trading at lows not seen since the Covid pandemic.
Mission Green Bangladesh took the initiative. Over 5,000 trees were planted, with the active participation of 1,700 volunteers
The signing ceremony was held on June 3 at the BEF office in Police Plaza Concord
bKash, a leading mobile financial services (MFS) provider, has presented 14 individuals with Hisense deep freezers and 43-inch Hisense smart TVs for receiving the highest amount of remittance through its platform during the first week of a special campaign ahead of Eid-ul-Azha..JM Taslim K
The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, in partnership with commerce platform ShopUp, has launched an initiative titled Porshi, aimed at equipping women-led small businesses in Bangladesh with the digital tools and skills necessary to flourish in the modern economy..Supported by the Ga
ACI Motors Limited, an automobile enterprise and a subsidiary of ACI Limited, has recently signed a strategic partnership deal with the Chinese technology firm EcoFlow to introduce a new line of portable energy solutions tailored for the Bangladeshi market..FH Ansarey, managing director of
Chinese investors have shown interest in strategic sectors in Bangladesh — including textiles, renewable energy, electronics, and agribusiness — signalling a new phase of bilateral investment cooperation, according to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida)..The interest was
Mastercard, a leading global digital payment solutions, has joined forces with Star Cineplex to unveil the “Mastercard–Star Cineplex Exclusive Discount Campaign 2025”, launched in anticipation of Eid-ul-Azha..Running from June 1 to June 15, the campaign offers Mastercard credit cardholders
Mamun Rashid has been appointed chairman of BD Venture Limited, a technology-oriented venture capital firm in Bangladesh..Rashid is a seasoned finance professional, policy advocate, and corporate leader with nearly four decades of experience spanning banking, consultancy, and institution b
Watch today's episode of Star Explains to find out more
Watch to find out more in today's episode of Star Explains with Ahsan
In recent years, treasury bills and bond interest rates have exceeded those of savings certificates
When prices of widely consumed staples like potatoes, edible oil, sugar or onions spike and remain inflated for extended periods, it understandably hits the poor and low-income people where it hurts the most: in their wallet.
Migrant Bangladeshis sent home $2.39 billion in October
Bangladesh’s RMG exports may suffer this calendar year owing to an increase in tariffs in the US, the possibility of a reduction in shipments to India, and energy shortages, according to a forecast by Bloomberg Economics.
In a bid to discourage the use of plastic, the interim government may double the value-added tax (VAT) on some synthetic household products such as tableware and kitchenware to 15 percent.
Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd (Desco) has received regulatory approval to issue over 23.81 lakh irredeemable non-cumulative preference shares in favour of the government.
Bangladesh has taken a long-awaited and consequential step by officially floating the taka. This marks the end of a tightly managed exchange rate regime that, for years, concealed deeper imbalances in the economy. While partly driven by necessity, dwindling foreign reserves and IMF-mandated reforms, it also presents a rare opportunity to reset the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would pause his threatened 50-percent tariffs on the European Union until July 9, after a “very nice call” with European Commision president Ursula von der Leyen.
It’s Japan’s version of the Fed’s Jackson Hole symposium, without the trail hikes or views, and this year’s gathering of global central bankers in Tokyo will focus on two uncomfortable realities: flagging economic growth and sticky inflation.
Although the National Board of Revenue (NBR) resumed regular operations yesterday after nearly two weeks of protests and work abstentions, ship and container congestion has once again gripped the Chattogram Port, triggering concern among businesses over potential delays in cargo handling and increased logistics costs.
Despite repeated appeals from bank directors and top executives over the past month, the central bank held firm.
Vietnamese airline Vietjet Air said Monday it will buy 20 widebody Airbus A330-900 planes, doubling its order from the aviation giant in a deal worth an estimated $8 billion.
Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud yesterday said exporters from India’s northeastern states can use the Chattogram port, but it would be better if they process their goods in Bangladesh and export those through the port.
