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
The state-run agency says industrial gas supply rose 21% in the Jan-Apr period
Roisun Nesa, deputy commissioner of the NBR, said that the NBR officials started work in full swing
Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul rose, but Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta fell.
Brussels and Washington have been negotiating in a bid to avert an all-out transatlantic trade war, and had agreed to suspend tariff action on both sides until July.
The interim government is undertaking reforms to create broad space for the economy to take off, which would take the share market to a new height, said Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser.
Textile and garment industry owners yesterday expressed grave concerns over the inadequate supply of gas to industrial units, which has been severely hampering their operations for almost three years.
Prof Yunus will visit Tokyo from May 28-31. The two countries will also sign at least seven memoranda of understanding.
The budget for fiscal 2025-26 is likely to be smaller than the current year’s outlay, but subsidy spending is expected to remain almost unchanged at Tk 1,15,741 crore.
Workers of a readymade garment factory in Savar demonstrated for five hours today by blocking roads, demanding arrears and Eid bonus..Witnesses said around 700 workers of Basundhara Garments Limited, located in Hemayetpur area of Savar started their protest by blocking the Hemayetpur-Sin
