Thursday, 10 Jul, 2025

Business

US and China to hold trade negotiations in London

A fresh round of discussions to address the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China is scheduled to commence in London on Monday. On Friday, US President Donald Trump revealed that a high-level US delegation, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce

RMG exports earn $36.55 billion in 11 months

Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector earned $36.55 billion in export revenue during the first 11 months (July–May) of the ongoing 2024–25 fiscal year, marking a 10.20% year-on-year growth. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the RMG sector had

Budget FY26: Sanitary napkin prices set to drop

In the proposed FY2025–26 budget, the government has extended the VAT exemption on imported raw materials for sanitary napkin production until 30 June 2030, aiming to reduce prices in the coming fiscal year. Interim Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed made the announcement

Prices may rise as duties hiked on products

The government in the proposed national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal years has suggested increasing duties and reducing tax exemptions on several products, which may lead to price hikes. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed made the announcement during his budget speech on Monday

Bangladesh budget proposes price cuts on sugar, soybean oil

Bangladesh’s caretaker government on Monday proposed a reduction in taxes on key food items and daily essentials, including sugar and soybean oil, as part of its national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed unveiled the budget in a

Finance Adviser begins presentation of national budget 2025–26

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed began presenting the national budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year at 3:00pm on Monday (June 2) in a live broadcast on Bangladesh Television.  The proposed budget amounts to Tk 7,90,000 crore, marking the first time in Bangladesh’s

Interim govt approves Tk7.89 lakh crore budget for FY26

The Advisory Council of the interim government has approved a national budget of Tk7,89,999 crore for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The approval came at a meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus today. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed is presenting the budget from 3pm.

Jewellery stores shut down nationwide 

All jewellery stores across Bangladesh have shut down indefinitely starting Thursday, following the arrest of Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) Vice President Riponul Hasan. In a statement issued late Wednesday night, BAJUS condemned Hasan’s arrest as "false and

Volvo to cut 3,000 jobs amid global industry struggles

Volvo Cars has announced plans to slash approximately 3,000 jobs, primarily in Sweden, as part of a sweeping cost-cutting initiative aimed at strengthening its financial footing.  The layoffs will affect about 15% of the automaker’s white-collar workforce, the company

Rawhide prices raised before Eid-ul-Azha

The government has increased the prices of salt-applied raw cowhide by Tk 5 per square foot for this year’s Eid-ul-Azha.  In Dhaka, the price has been fixed at Tk 60 to Tk 65 per square foot, while outside Dhaka, it will be Tk 55 to Tk 60. On the other hand, prices of

Half-day petrol pump strike disrupts fuel supply across Bangladesh

Petrol pump owners and tank lorry operators across Bangladesh enforced a half-day strike on Sunday (May 25), demanding the fulfillment of 10-point demands, including an increase in fuel sales commissions and regulatory reforms. The strike, observed from 6am to 2pm, was enforced by the

Tk 20,000cr siphoned from capital market in 2010–11: Debapriya 

Noted economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya has alleged that Tk 20,000 crore was siphoned off from Bangladesh’s capital market during the 2010–11 crisis, with Tk 15,000 crore of that amount laundered abroad — a move he says occurred under the influence of powerful

TCB begins Eid sales of essentials today

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will begin selling essential items at affordable prices from 690 mobile trucks across the country starting today (May 23), ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The sales will continue daily—including Fridays and holidays—until June 3. Items such

TCB begins Eid sales of essentials tomorrow

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will begin selling essential items at affordable prices from 690 mobile trucks across the country starting tomorrow (May 23), ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The sales will continue daily, including Fridays and holidays, until June 3. Items like edible

US accepts Qatari gift of $400m jet for Air Force One fleet

The United States has formally accepted a Boeing 747 aircraft gifted by Qatar to be added to the Air Force One fleet — a move that has ignited fierce criticism, even from some of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the

Nike to raise prices amid tariffs uncertainty 

Global sportswear giant Nike is set to increase prices across a wide range of its products starting June 1, as the company navigates rising costs and trade policy uncertainty. While Nike attributes the move to regular “seasonal planning,” the timing comes amid growing

Pay RMG workers Eid bonus within May, salary by June 3: Adviser

Garment owners will have to pay their workers Eid-ul-Azha bonuses within this month, and salaries between the 1st and 3rd of June, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday. He made the statement following a meeting of the National Law and Order

Gold prices hiked again

Jewellers have raised the price of gold by Tk1,365 to Tk1,67,098 per bhori (11.664 grams), just a day after lowering it in the local market. The decision was made at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Pricing and Price Monitoring of the Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association

Gala Opening Ceremony of Phoenix Convention Centre (PCC): A New Era for Signature Events Begins

The Phoenix Convention Centre (PCC) was officially inaugurated on the evening of 16 May 2025, marking a new chapter in Dhaka’s event and hospitality sector. The Gala Opening Ceremony, held at the centre’s stunning location on Phoenix Plaza (Lift 8), Tejgaon, brought together

CA for establishing 'Microcredit Bank' to empower youth entrepreneurs

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday (May 17) called for the establishment of a dedicated Microcredit Bank to provide collateral-free loans to young entrepreneurs, saying microcredit has evolved beyond the traditional NGO framework. He said, “Microcredit is the real