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 ...