Sukanta Halder

Businesses are taking advantage of the increased connectivity offered by Padma Bridge but potential investors of four industrial parks under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) are missing out as the projects are yet to be complete. 

Mohammad Shabuj Sheikh has cut back on food expenditure, Shibly Ahmed has eliminated all non-essential purchases for his children, and a junior banker has let go of her domestic help.  

On Wednesday evening, Munaf Khan was sitting idle at his cash box in the clothing shop in the New Market area amid the emphatic sound of generators after the electricity went off since there were no customers. 

The recent hike in diesel price increased truck fares by 22-25 percent, leading to rice, vegetables and some essentials to become dearer in the capital.

Edible oil processors have proposed a hike of Tk 20 per litre in the price of soybean oil on the ground of the significant depreciation of the taka, which has raised their import cost.

Edible oil processors in Bangladesh have proposed the government raise the price of soybean oil by Tk 20 per litre, according to processors and officials of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC).

With evidence surfacing of a couple of insurance companies misusing funds of policyholders, the insurance regulator has directed them to refrain from borrowing from banks using life funds as collaterals. 

Bangladesh has once again started to export jute-based carpets and earnings from shipment of floor coverings have been rising gradually. 

Abdul Hakim, a businessman from Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur district, had paid in advance for several products from Evercare Agro Food and Beverage Ltd in January but upon receiving the goods, he immediately informed the company that they were damaged.

Tea farmers in Moulvibazar might not get the expected yield this year as they are struggling to irrigate their plantations in the face of inadequate rainfall, which has also given rise to a red spider mite infestation that is eating away at the crops.

SME Foundation will provide another Tk 400 crore in loans to entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially women, to overcome pandemic losses, accelerate economic recovery and improve the quality of life in rural communities.  

The ongoing regular power cuts are eating away at the profits of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh since they need to rely on costly diesel to keep their operation up and running, which is raising the cost of production. 

Locally manufactured electric products, namely transformers and accumulators, are gaining popularity abroad as the industry’s annual export earnings touched a record-high of $100 million in the just concluded fiscal year.

Although tea production has expanded in Bangladesh over the past decade, outbound shipments of the once major export earner have dropped at the same time in the face of growing domestic demand, according to market players.

Over a year has passed since government agencies cracked down on several e-commerce platforms for not providing refunds or delivering products of thousands of customers after luring them with hefty discounts. 

Luxury hotel businesses in Bangladesh are on the path of recovery to pre-pandemic levels, with local customers playing a vital role in renting rooms, holding a large number of events and seeking food made by their restaurants. 

The global demand for furniture “made in Bangladesh” has risen considerably thanks to improvements in product quality, diversification in design, cash incentives, availability of manpower and lower wages in the industry, according to market players.

Bangladesh’s rawhide market appears to have made a comeback this Eid-ul-Azha on the back of higher demand, better prices and a bar on rawhides arriving in Dhaka.

Rawhide was not being bought and sold at prices fixed by the government, but the market situation was fairly good compared to last year.

Rawhide traders are expecting a good season for business this year as tanners have cleared last year’s arrears owed to them, which would in turn enable purchasing skins and hides from seasonal traders during upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.