Can incentives help Bangladesh attract more FDI?
4 October 2026
A new scheme offers resident and non-resident Bangladeshis a 1.25% cash reward for using their connections to attract fresh foreign investment
4 October 2026
Local drugmakers see little gain from US tariff exemption
30 September 2026
Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry may see some opportunities from the latest US tariff adjustment, but the immediate benefits are likely to be limited because the country does not currently manufacture many of the highly specialised medicines covered by the measure, industry leaders said.
30 September 2026
Companies are dodging price shock by cutting costs
29 September 2026
In the coming weeks, biscuits and spices may start arriving in slightly smaller packets, while dealers and retailers of atta, maida and suji may receive lower commissions on each packet sold.
29 September 2026
Bangladesh sees gradual decline in foreign tourist arrivals
27 September 2026
Bangladesh has been registering a gradual decline in foreign tourist arrivals over the last two years amid political turmoil, security concerns and inadequate infrastructure and services.
27 September 2026
Salt imports raise concerns among local producers
25 September 2026
Bangladesh has approved imports of 150,000 tonnes of unrefined salt just weeks before the new domestic production season, raising concerns among farmers and refiners over the need for the purchases and their impact on local producers.
25 September 2026
Import rules eased for specialised fabrics
22 September 2026
The move is expected to ease sourcing of inputs for manufacturers producing specialised apparel
22 September 2026
Fuel price hike starts hitting logistics sector
22 September 2026
Owners across Chattogram port’s logistics chain have begun raising charges and pressing for rate revisions after the latest fuel price hike, stoking fears of fresh cost pressure on businesses and exporters already struggling to compete internationally.
22 September 2026
Higher fuel prices to push up costs of production
22 September 2026
The latest fuel price hike will raise production, transport and energy costs across Bangladesh, putting further pressure on businesses, exporters and consumers already facing high inflation and weak demand, business leaders said.
22 September 2026
In fragile trust, economy falters
Over the last several years, Ahsan, a rickshaw puller in his 50s, has been eagerly waiting for relief from the high prices of food and other essentials. Days and months have passed, but his pursuit of a better living by escaping the curse of elevated inflation has remained a distant dream.
8 February 2025
Abul Khair Steel aims to cut ecological footprint
Steel factories are often seen as some of the biggest culprits of environmental pollution due to their massive energy consumption, heavy water use and harmful emissions.
6 February 2025
Sales of trucks rebound on pent-up demand
Even amid a business slowdown, sales of heavy-duty trucks and covered vans showed a year-on-year increase last year, according to company and vehicle registration data, as commercial vehicle distributors attribute this rise to pent-up demand since the pandemic.
4 February 2025
Waning foreign investment a wake-up call for policymakers
The inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bangladesh is facing critical challenges as a plethora of factors have caused it to stagnate to a mere 0.5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product in recent years.
25 January 2025
Bangladesh must switch to hollow blocks to reduce pollution
Clay bricks cost Tk 12 per piece. A hollow block, which is four times larger than a clay brick, is priced at Tk 50.
22 January 2025
Net foreign direct investment hits six-year low
The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh fell to $104.33 million in the July-September quarter of fiscal year 2024-25, the lowest in at least six years, as foreign investors stayed away from Bangladesh amid deadly political unrest, labour agitation, and a persistent economic crisis.
21 January 2025
Cement sector struggles amid political, economic challenges
Cement sales in Bangladesh plunged in 2024 due to political instability, rising production costs, and the deferment of the implementation of government infrastructure projects, leaving the industry operating at less than half its capacity.
20 January 2025
Drugmakers hiring cross-discipline grads amid biomedicine expansion
Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by young talent and innovation, according to pharmaceutical professionals.
19 January 2025
Drugmakers hiring cross-discipline grads amid biomedicine expansion
Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by young talent and innovation, according to pharmaceutical professionals. .The industry is shifting from chemical-based medicines to biomedicines, offering fresh graduates unique opportunities to shap
19 January 2025
Chinese firms bullish on manmade fibre exports to Bangladesh
Non-cotton garments are particularly lucrative, fetching higher prices than traditional cottonwear for having better flexibility, durability
18 January 2025
Motorcycle sales hit six-year low
Interestingly, the premium motorcycle segment bucked the trend, showing significant growth in 2024.
18 January 2025
Polythene ban: A litmus test for will and eco-innovation
Although Bangladesh became the first country in the world to announce a complete ban on the use of polythene bags in 2002, strict enforcement of the much-lauded initiative has only started taking shape recently.
17 January 2025
Paint makers decry tax hikes as demand slumps
The local paint industry is reeling from increased supplementary duties (SD), which threaten both revenue and the survival of manufacturers amid rising production costs and shrinking consumer demand, according to industry insiders.
13 January 2025
Engine oil sales double in 5 years
Annual sales of engine oil in Bangladesh more than doubled to Tk 8,000 crore in 2024 from Tk 3,616 crore five years ago, driven by higher prices, increased mobility, industrial growth and overall economic activities..And the sector is expected to clock more growth in the coming years, indu
4 January 2025
Thailand sees growing influx of patients from Bangladesh
Bangladeshi patients searching for better healthcare than that available at home are increasingly travelling to Thailand instead of India as the neighbouring country is limiting visa issuances for Bangladeshi nationals.
2 January 2025
Inflation, political uncertainty eat through furniture recovery
After two years of sluggish business, local furniture makers saw a slight improvement in sales in June, only to meet with nationwide student protests culminating in a fierce anti-government campaign that ultimately ousted the Awami League regime in early August.
28 December 2024
REHAB fair gives realtors a reality check
Real estate developers in Bangladesh participating in REHAB Fair-2024 were unsure of the event’s potential outcome until yesterday, when the sparse presence of visitors, let alone potential buyers, gave a reality check of the persistent economic challenges.
26 December 2024
Geyser sales pick up as winter bites
Like last year, there is a good demand for electricity-run residential water heaters, locally known as geysers, since the coming of winter this year thanks to changing lifestyles in semi-urban and urban areas and affordable prices, according to industry insiders.
25 December 2024
As dollar jumps, old inflation battle to get tougher in new year
After a four-month lull, US dollar prices made an abrupt jump in December, making imports more expensive and pushing up business costs.
24 December 2024
A year of firefighting for businesses
The year began with a national election, saw a mass uprising midway and subsequently progressed through a deteriorated law and order situation. These all had adverse implications for businesses.
23 December 2024