Bangladesh needs to reduce the cost of doing business locally to be more competitive globally in the post-LDC era as the country will face duties on exports because of the erosion of trade privileges, said a noted economist yesterday.

To mark International Women’s Day 2021, Uber today announced a partnership with Dhaka-based non-profit foundation, Better Future for Women (BFW), which will enable women to gain skills so they can earn a livelihood as drivers on Uber’s platform, said a press release by Uber today.

The High Court today directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit charge sheets to the trial courts in two and half months in connection with 21 corruption cases filed against Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan, managing partner of SD Survey Firm, and several others for their involvement with the BASIC Bank loan scam.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged researchers to conduct studies to diversify Bangladesh’s export basket alongside modernising and mechanising the agriculture sector.

Bangladesh is becoming South Asia’s “economic bull case”, reported Wall Street Journal on March 3. WSJ’s Hong Kong-based reporter Mike Bird claimed Bangladesh is notable in South Asia for being the “closest proxy” for the successful development models seen at various stages in South Korea, China, and Vietnam.

Earnings from exports declined 3.92 per cent year-on-year to $3.19 billion in February because of a fall in apparel shipment as the lingering coronavirus pandemic continues to hurt the country’s key markets.

India’s dominant services activity grew at its fastest pace in a year last month, driven by an extended robust recovery in domestic demand though input costs rose at the quickest rate in eight years, a private survey showed.

Inditex staff in Spain say they are being forced out as the owner of fast-fashion brand Zara rolls out its plan to shut up to 1,200 stores worldwide, despite a company agreement with Spanish unions to project jobs.

Bangladesh Bank has asked banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) to sever ties with CTO Forum Bangladesh as the latter’s president spread false information on the capability of lenders in tackling cyberattacks.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs yesterday approved in principle a $58 million project to increase the efficiency and logistical capacity of Chattogram port.

The workers of nine state-owned jute mills that were shut last year staged a two-hour demonstration in front of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) office in Chattogram yesterday.

Shares of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh fell 2.85 per cent on the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday as the company posted a decline in sales in 2020 because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Stocks of Beximco Limited dropped 1.64 per cent to Tk 84 yesterday despite the company’s announcement that it would issue Sukuk bonds worth Tk 3,000 crore.

Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) recently witnessed the joining of a new managing director following a gazette from the Department of Financial Institutions.

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) yesterday urged the revenue administration to cut the corporate tax for listed and non-listed companies by 2.5 per cent in the next fiscal year.

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub) recently witnessed the appointment of its new managing director.

Bangladesh’s hope of securing $3.6 billion in Chinese loans for five projects may not materialise as Dhaka has unilaterally decided to replace them in a list focusing bilateral cooperation.

Akij Ventures and subsidiary Akij Food and Beverage recently witnessed the appointment of a new managing director and chief executive officer.

Bangladesh will benefit more than it would lose once the country graduates to a developing nation from the grouping of the least-developed countries, said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday.

Partex Star Group recently saw the appointment of a new deputy managing director.