Mahmudul Hasan

The government is undertaking a mega project worth Tk 2,541 crore to create an enabling environment for the digital economy as it gears up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The government is set to introduce an innovative financing model under a new law to enable small businesses and startups to show their moveable assets as collateral with a view to nurturing entrepreneurs and helping them secure loans.

Online educational platform 10 Minute School has raised $2 million in seed funding from Surge, Sequoia Capital India’s rapid scale-up programme, to increase investment in product and technology.

The Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Idcol) has big plans to invest in industrial rooftop solar power projects in line with the government target to meet 30 per cent of Bangladesh’s energy needs from clean sources by 2030.

Tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 3.02 per cent by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

Pathao has decided to substantially cut its commission on bike rides in line with demands from drivers in a move that could potentially increase the company’s competitiveness and put pressure on rival Uber.

The wait for an interoperable digital transaction system is soon going to be over as the government is launching it early next year.

The government plans to merge development and revenue budgets, amend income tax laws and establish a procurement authority in the next three years as part of a set of reforms aimed at boosting revenue collection and ensuring transparency in expenditure.

Although industry people do not want a new law or regulatory agency, some legal experts and a consumer rights body said those were necessary to oversee the industry now plagued with scams and controversies and protect the interests of stakeholders, including merchants.  

Bangladeshi consumers can now get a taste of the global ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) phenomenon thanks to the digital services platform Pathao, which is rolling out the feature today on a test basis.

Global credit ratings agency Fitch said Bangladesh’s economy would grow 7 per cent in the current fiscal year, powered by declining coronavirus infections and easing of supply chain disruptions.

Bangladesh can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 21.85 percent by 2030 if provided with $175.9 billion as the country joins in the efforts to keep alive a target of capping global warming at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and avert a climate disaster.

Bangladesh has set an ambitious goal of generating more than 4,100 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 as the county looks to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

Computer services export from Bangladesh has crossed the $300-million mark as the coronavirus pandemic turbocharged the global demand for data processing, hosting and consultancy services.

Braving heavy heat, she was standing in a long queue in the capital’s Farmgate last week with hopes to buy some essential items at subsidised rates from a truck selling the products.

The poor, pummelled the most by the pandemic, just can’t catch a break, it seems.

Card transactions for e-commerce purchases increased slightly in August following a slump in July, when people were reluctant to place orders after it emerged that a few online platforms were scamming people.

Amid a deluge of complaints against some beleaguered e-commerce companies, the e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) and Access to Information Programme (a2i) have stepped up to build a digital system that will automatically receive and settle customer grievances.

Bad news comes in threes, it is often said.

The country’s call centre industry is set to undergo fast growth as the government alongside private entities such as banks has started to provide many services through helplines.