Jagaran Chakma

The country’s growing non-leather footwear industry now faces a major setback as a steep new tariff from the United States threatens its growth

In a densely packed city like Dhaka, few real estate firms stand out in the public memory. But Concord is an exception. After all, it built the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar — in just 89 days, and 43 years ago.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports have more than doubled over the past seven years, reaching $213 million in the just-concluded fiscal year 2024-2025, thanks to the entry into fresh markets and a wave of new products.

Uncertainty looms over Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports to the US market, as President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent.

Motorcycle sales are showing signs of recovery after a slow patch of nearly three years, due mainly to easing consumer prices, lower registration costs, and aggressive marketing by manufacturers.

Banks charge SMEs interest rates ranging between 13 and 15 percent, among the highest across all sectors except services.

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 budget for FY26 has drawn strong criticism from business leaders who say it lacks a clear roadmap for improving the investment climate, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and implementing overdue reforms in the banking sector.

The government is going to expand import duty exemptions on pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment, with 79 new items expected to be added to the duty-free list in the upcoming national budget.

The government is considering reducing customs duty on seven imported tanning chemicals in the upcoming national budget, offering slight relief to the country’s struggling tannery sector.

Private investment as a percentage of the gross domestic product has slumped to its lowest level in five years, stoking fears over waning business confidence and a slowdown in job creation.

In the heart of Dhaka, amid vibrant toy displays and the hum of industry conversations at InterContinental Dhaka, sector people were talking about a quiet revolution — one that could redefine Bangladesh’s export landscape and lessen its long-standing reliance on imported toys.

Japanese investment in Bangladesh has grown steadily over the past decade. But with clearer policies, improved infrastructure and a more predictable regulatory environment, there is room to attract much more.

Some manufacturers say they are now opting to reduce office utility consumption, optimise office supplies, minimise bank dependence, and find alternative funding sources.

Bangladesh is on track to retain its status as the world’s biggest cotton importer in the marketing year (MY) 2025-26, with imports projected to reach 8.5 million bales, according to a record-setting forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram has gained momentum nearly a decade after its initiation, as Dhaka and Beijing look to strengthen bilateral ties and punishing Trump tariffs prompt Chinese manufacturers to consider relocating factories.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports rose by 3.46 percent year-on-year in the first ten months of the current fiscal year, despite a sharp drop in April due mainly to holidays in key markets and US aid cuts hurting merchandise shipments. 

The Chief Adviser’s Office has recently formed an eight-member committee to assess the proposed merger of several investment-related agencies under the single umbrella of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida).

The Detailed Area Plan (DAP) aims to strike a balance between development and sustainability of Dhaka, according to the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), as it says relaxing DAP guidelines to favour real estate interests would cause long-term consequences to the liveability of the megacity.

Regulations in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) are limiting housing responses to meet Dhaka’s growing accommodation needs, according to realtors, as they argue that current urban policies are doing more harm than good.