Jagaran Chakma

The electronics and home appliance sector in Bangladesh is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent years due to inflation, currency devaluation and declining consumer spending on non-essential items.

Mongla port, the second largest seaport in Bangladesh, witnessed a sharp  decline in container handling throughout the first seven months of the  current fiscal year (FY), with growing economic constraints eroding  business activities in the country.

If the macroeconomic stress does not ease soon, these small ventures, which contribute 32 percent of the country's GDP and employ 85 percent of the industrial workforce, face closure.

The business world often thrives on boldness, but in Syed Manzur Elahi, Bangladesh found something more: a quiet fortitude, a moral compass, and an entrepreneurial mind that always seeks to build.

Syed Manzur Elahi was one of Bangladesh’s most distinguished industrialists and entrepreneurs.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports posted steady growth in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, buoyed by rising demand from developed markets, though a sharp decline in February raised concerns, industry experts said.

Bangladesh requires around 100,000 new apartments every year. Despite having the capacity to meet this demand, realtors can only supply 8 percent of the required units, leaving a substantial gap.

Shipments go up 21.25% in first eight months of FY25

Bangladesh’s exports have shown resilience, displaying steady growth in key sectors such as garments, plastics and seafood in the first eight months of fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, somewhat defying global economic headwinds and domestic concerns like high inflation and political uncertainty.

The government’s borrowing from domestic sources surged in the first half of FY25, primarily driven by a substantial increase in the issuance of special bonds, particularly those issued to clear arrears to electricity and fertiliser producers, as well as treasury bills (T-bills) and bonds targeting institutional and individual investors.

Although the interim government is focusing on reforms and new measures, corruption remains a major concern for businesses. Instead of waning, demands for undue payments by public officials have increased in some cases, said a top industrialist.

The industry currently has a market size of around Tk 6,250 crore

Singer Bangladesh has started the commercial production of home appliances at its new plant, becoming the first company to operate in the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ) in Araihazar of Narayanganj.

Bangladesh’s footwear sector is at a turning point, offering lucrative investment opportunities in both the leather and non-leather segments. However, challenges in sustaining growth and enhancing competitiveness remain, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) highlighted in a newsletter released yesterday.

In search of a better future, Md Selim and Hasanuzzaman Hassan migrated to the US roughly over three decades ago. The brothers eventually found success in construction business there but could not ignore the urge for contributing to their homeland. 

Bangladesh’s investment-to-GDP ratio declined by 0.25 percentage points to 30.70 percent in the fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, according to official data, signalling a potential slowdown in future economic growth.

Foreign participants at the 16th Asia Pharma Expo foresee a bright future for Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry, given its continuous product development and expanding global footprint.

The government has declared furniture as the “Product of the Year” following a rebound in exports during the first seven months of the current fiscal year.

The intersection of profession, passion and academic background can be complicated.

Local air conditioner (AC) manufacturers in Bangladesh are pushing for “fair” government procurement policies, arguing that existing rules favour foreign brands despite local companies meeting global standards.