Bangladesh

Bangladesh's jute industry is set for a significant export boom, fueled by the global push for sustainable and eco-friendly products. As a leading exporter of jute yarn and a major player in the overall jute and jute goods market, Bangladesh holds a natural edge in this expanding green economy. To fully leverage this, strategically targeting new, high-value markets with diverse, eco-conscious products is key.   Recent Export Performance The past five fiscal years reveal both fluctuations and strong growth, showcasing the industry's resilience and potential. While detailed year-on-year breakdowns for all jute categories and destinations vary, overall trends indicate robust performance: FY 2019-2020: Jute and Jute Manufactures brought in approximately $882.35 million. FY 2020-2021: A remarkable surge saw earnings hit $1161.48 million, breaking records and exceeding the $1 billion mark—a 31% increase from the previous year. FY 2021-2022: Exports remained strong at $112...

Grameenphone, Bangladesh’s premier mobile network operator, is grappling with an escalating dispute with its former workforce, a situation that has grown increasingly contentious in recent months. The ongoing saga, marked by persistent protests and a tragic incident, is casting a shadow over the company’s public image and attracting investor scrutiny.   The heart of the contention lies in the former employees' demand for a 5% share of Grameenphone’s annual profits, as stipulated by the Bangladesh Labour Act. Protesters, organized under the "Laid-Off and Deprived Grameenphone Workers Unity Council," allege years of withheld payments and accumulated penalties. Based on Grameenphone's reported net profits from 2020 to 2024, the cumulative 5% share owed to workers is estimated to be a staggering BDT 8.54 billion. This substantial claim, alongside demands for job reinstatement and other lawful dues, forms the core of their intensified agitation.   Recent weeks have...

  The integrity of Bangladesh's Islamic banking sector hangs precariously, its promise of ethical, interest-free finance undermined by a deepening crisis of non-performing loans (NPLs) and acute liquidity shortages. This isn't merely a Shariah compliance issue; it's a fundamental failure of effective banking practices, exacerbated by the unchecked influence of powerful defaulters who have exploited these institutions. At the heart of the crisis lies a systemic issue of massive loan defaults, often linked to influential groups like the S Alam Group, whose alleged irregularities have ballooned NPLs at key Islamic banks such as Islami Bank Bangladesh. This concentration of risk, coupled with questionable lending practices, has shattered balance sheets and eroded public confidence, triggering significant deposit withdrawals and a severe cash crunch across the sector. Several Islamic banks now face alarming equity deficits, with some seeing default rates reportedly soaring to ...

  The ongoing crisis within Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue (NBR) has reached a critical juncture, with a prolonged pen-down strike by tax, VAT, and customs officials severely impacting the nation's economic vital signs. Government revenue collection has slowed to a trickle, and essential business operations, particularly in the import and export sectors, face unprecedented disruption. At the Heart of the Unrest: The root cause of this debilitating standoff lies in a controversial ordinance proposing the dismemberment of the NBR into two distinct entities: the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division. While the government champions this structural overhaul as a necessary step to enhance efficiency, mitigate conflicts of interest, and broaden Bangladesh's notoriously narrow tax base, NBR officials stand in staunch opposition. Their primary concern revolves around a contentious clause within the ordinance that would permit officers from the gener...

Sri Lanka is actively pursuing investment from Bangladesh to bolster its domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. This initiative stems from a significant imbalance between the nation's demand for medicines and its current production capacity, alongside a strategic push to strengthen economic ties within the region. At a recent high-level business forum in Colombo, Sri Lankan officials and industry representatives extended a strong invitation to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, acknowledging Bangladesh's well-developed and globally competitive pharmaceutical sector.   Sri Lanka presently relies heavily on imported medications, with an estimated 85% of its pharmaceutical requirements fulfilled by international suppliers. In 2021, imports of medical and pharmaceutical products were valued at approximately USD 763 million. This substantial dependence on foreign sources exposes the island to vulnerabilities in global supply chains and currency fluctuations, a challenge acu...

Bangladesh's financial sector is navigating a period of intense pressure, as evidenced by the 91-day treasury bill yield climbing to a historic peak of 12.10% in recent auctions conducted by the nation's central bank. This new high surpasses the 12.02% observed just a fortnight ago and represents a notable ascent from rates around 10% recorded a few months prior (April 2025). This escalating yield reflects considerable liquidity strain within the banking system and an increased reliance by the government on domestic funding.   Several interconnected factors are contributing to this significant rise. Firstly, commercial banks are contending with increasingly stringent liquidity conditions. This situation is partly attributable to a surge in non-performing loans (NPLs), which reached an unprecedented Tk 345,765 crore by the close of 2024. Furthermore, there's a clear trend of depositors shifting funds from financially weaker institutions to more robust banks, intensifying...

  The intricate web of Bangladesh's capital market has once again drawn sharp attention to the actions of Md. Abul Khayer, a Deputy Registrar at the Department of Cooperatives, and his repeated involvement in share manipulation, particularly concerning Crystal Insurance Company Limited. Recent rulings by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and an ongoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) case highlight a pattern of alleged illicit activities that threaten market integrity and investor confidence.   The BSEC's Stance: Fines and Warnings   The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission has consistently taken enforcement actions against Abul Khayer and his associates for their alleged role in share price manipulation across various listed companies, including Crystal Insurance. A recent BSEC ruling, as reported on June 16, 2025, saw Abul Khayer and his associates slapped with fines totaling Tk 24.6 million for manipulating the share price of Cr...

  Recent developments in Bangladesh indicate a slight increase in COVID-19 cases, driven by the emergence of new Omicron subvariants. While health authorities state there is no major cause for immediate alarm, increased vigilance and adherence to health guidelines are being emphasized.   The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has identified two new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, XFG and XFC, within the country. These subvariants are descendants of the highly transmissible JN.1 lineage. They were initially detected at Chattogram Medical College Hospital in April 2025. Data from icddr,b's surveillance sites across nine districts, including Kishoregonj, Rajshahi, and Chattogram, show a rise in positivity rates, reaching approximately 7% of tested patients in May 2025, an increase from near-zero rates earlier in the year.   As of early June 2025, Bangladesh has reported a relatively low number of daily COVID-19 cases. For insta...

An analysis of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) over the last ten trading days reveals a mixed but generally positive performance among its top-tier stocks. The premier bourse of the nation saw its leading shares navigate through fluctuating market sentiments, with some demonstrating robust growth while others maintained stability. Based on a composite evaluation of market capitalization and trading volume, the top five companies currently dominating the DSE are Grameenphone Ltd. (GP), Square Pharmaceuticals PLC. (SQURPHARMA), BRAC Bank PLC. (BRACBANK), British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited (BATBC), and Robi Axiata PLC. (ROBI). Here is a comparative analysis of their performance from May 27, 2025, to June 7, 2025: The Top 5 DSE Shares at a Glance: Grameenphone Ltd. (GP): The telecommunications giant has shown consistent trading activity, with its share price exhibiting minor fluctuations. Over the past ten days, GP's stock has demonstrated resilience, maintaining ...

April 2025 saw the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in a state of flux, a common occurrence as the financial world braces for the unveiling of the national budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. For much of the month, the main DSEX index showed a downward drift, reflecting a natural caution among investors. Everyone watches closely, trying to predict which sectors might get a boost and which might face new challenges when the government lays out its spending plans. This pre-budget period is often marked by a collective holding of breath.   However, the story didn't end there. As April drew to a close, a sense of recovery seemed to take hold. This late upturn suggests that some investors were starting to see opportunities, perhaps anticipating specific areas that the upcoming budget might favor. It's like reading tea leaves – trying to discern future trends from the current market movements. Looking at how different parts of the market performed gives us further clues. The late stren...

Marico Bangladesh has demonstrably established a robust and consistent performance trajectory over the preceding five fiscal years (FY2021-FY2025). Analysis reveals a company characterized by steady revenue expansion, sound profitability metrics, and a commitment to delivering shareholder value.   The company's revenue stream has exhibited a consistent upward trend, evidenced by a calculated five-year Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) approximating 10.6%. This sustained growth reflects effective market penetration strategies, successful product portfolio management, and an ability to capitalize on the evolving consumer landscape within Bangladesh. The observed year-on-year increases underscore the company's capacity to adapt and thrive within the dynamic FMCG sector.   Marico Bangladesh maintains a commendable level of profitability. Consistently achieving net profit margins in the vicinity of 35% signifies efficient operational management and the inherent strength of...

May 1st serves as International Workers' Day, a globally recognized commemoration rooted in the historical labor movements of the late 19th century. The pivotal Haymarket Affair of 1886 in Chicago, arising from advocacy for an eight-hour workday, significantly shaped the establishment of this date as a symbol of labor's pursuit of equitable working conditions and improved quality of life, extending beyond mere reduced hours to encompass dignity and personal time. The nascent May Day observances were characterized by a spirit of reform, with widespread demonstrations and rallies organized by workers advocating for enhanced wages, safer occupational environments, and the fundamental right to collective bargaining. These unified actions, often encountering opposition, underscored the potency of solidarity in challenging prevailing labor practices. Consequently, May Day evolved into an international expression of shared objectives and mutual support among the global workforce. ...

I t has been proposed by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries that the income tax exemption limit in Bangladesh be elevated to Tk 450,000 for general taxpayers, and to Tk 500,000 for female and senior citizen taxpayers, with the intended objective of mitigating the amplified financial pressures stemming from the prevailing inflation rates and the inexorably increasing cost of living. This proposition is predicated on the understanding that the existing tax thresholds may no longer adequately reflect the economic realities faced by a substantial portion of the populace, particularly in light of recent inflationary trends that have significantly eroded disposable incomes. While the aforementioned proposal addresses these exigencies, the potential macroeconomic repercussions, most notably their impact on Bangladesh's decelerating Gross Domestic Product growth and the elevated rate of inflation (surpassing 9%), warrant thorough analysis. It is posited th...

  The news from Magura, the face of that 8-year-old girl, Achia, it stays with everyone. It's not just a statistic; it's a gut-wrenching reminder of how brutally fragile childhood can be, especially here in Bangladesh. We talk about vulnerability, but to see it so violently exploited, it leaves a hollow ache.   Living here, people see the contradictions. We cherish children, they're the heart of our families, yet these atrocities happen. It feels like a betrayal, a deep crack in our social fabric. It’s more than just a crime; it’s a symptom of something deeply wrong, a breakdown of trust within the very spaces where children should feel safest.   The protests, the anger, the raw grief is seen everywhere. It's not just about this one case; it's about all the unspoken horrors, the fear that lingers in mothers' eyes. You can feel the collective trauma, the way it ripples through communities, leaving everyone shaken. It's a psychological crisis that affe...

  I n 2025, Bangladesh confronted persistent inflationary pressures, significantly impacting household budgets. To alleviate this burden, the government implemented a zero Value Added Tax (VAT) policy on essential goods within supermarkets. This initiative aimed to directly reduce consumer costs amidst a challenging economic landscape characterized by fluctuating global commodity prices and domestic supply chain vulnerabilities. The primary driver for the VAT exemption was the sustained high inflation, particularly in food items. Data from the Bangladesh Bank indicated that while overall inflation showed marginal decreases, food inflation remained a significant concern. Contributing factors included global supply chain disruptions, the depreciation of the taka, and inherent challenges within the domestic agricultural sector. The government's decision to eliminate VAT on essentials in supermarkets was a direct response to these pressures, intending to provide immediate financial r...