Bangladesh

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...

  After three years of exemption, the government has proposed imposing VAT on meditation services. In his budget statement issued, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced, "I propose to eliminate the existing VAT exemption on 'Meditation Services." During his budget presentation for the current fiscal year (Financial Year 2022), the finance minister, on the other hand, supported the decision to exempt meditation from VAT, claiming that it was decided for the benefit of mental health and mind control during the global pandemic. 7.0 percent VAT on meditation was originally introduced in Financial Year 2014, however it was later reversed by then-finance minister AMA Muhith in Financial Year 2015, emphasizing the role of allowing citizens to heal from diseases and illnesses. VAT on meditation was suggested again in the Financial Year 2019 budget presentation, but the finance minister put it aside for the past two years, revising the same fiscal's proposed fin...