Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal yesterday refused to accept data on the new poor released earlier through surveys conducted by private research organisations to measure the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic-induced income losses.

Female borrowers would get at least 25 per cent of the stimulus fund dedicated to the farmers, underprivileged women, professionals, and micro-enterprises, said the central bank yesterday.

A fresh stimulus package of at least Tk 20,000 crore is needed specifically for the survival and revival of cottage and micro enterprises (CMEs) as those are most vulnerable to the Covid-19 fallout, said Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).

The cut in source tax in the proposed budget may not bring down the price of steel, meaning the cost of infrastructure and construction projects is unlikely to decline, manufacturers say.

The 5 per cent regulatory duty imposed on the import of rapeseed may cause the price of mustard oil to shoot up and go beyond the purchasing power of consumers, millers said.

The stock price of almost all general insurance companies has more than doubled over the past year riding on speculation, putting the whole market at risk.

Bangladesh Bank today asked banks to disburse among women at least 25 per cent of the Tk 3,000 crore stimulus fund, which is dedicated to farmers, underprivileged women, professionals and micro enterprises.

Turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) hit a decade-high today thanks mainly to the higher participation of buoyant investors.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today rejected to accept the data on new poor that came out earlier through surveys done by private research organisations to measure the effect of Covid-induced income loss.

Japan’s economy shrank less than initially reported in the first quarter on smaller cuts to plant and equipment spending, but the coronavirus pandemic still dealt a huge blow to overall demand.

Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh said to have been recently recognised as “Best International Bank” at FinanceAsia Awards 2021. This is the 11th time the bank has been recognised since 2009 while the fifth major international award in the first quarter of 2021, says a press release.

Maddhapara Granite Mining Company earned Tk 256 crore by selling at least 11.12 lakh tonnes of rock in the ongoing fiscal year, the highest sale in three years.

The stock market managed to stay in the positive yesterday thanks to stocks of insurers and banks.

For around two decades, Swapan Debnath has operated a convenience store called Narayan Varieties in the Keprampara area of Agartala, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Tripura.

Consumers had to spend more to buy products and services other than food in May compared to April owing to the increasing prices of non-food items.

Local suppliers are at risk of losing $18.7 billion worth of exports a year if they can’t reduce carbon emissions in line with the plans of their major clients, according to a study by Standard Chartered.

Telecom operators yesterday placed a slew of demands before the government, including slashing corporate tax from 40 per cent and 45 per cent to 25 per cent and 32.5 per cent for listed and non-listed entities respectively.

Business leaders in Chattogram have stressed the need for reforms in the tax system, such as policies that do not require frequent changes, as well as waiving advance tax in order to boost both domestic and foreign investment in Bangladesh.

The central bank purchased $7.68 billion from the banking system in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, the highest on record, to contain any abnormal appreciation of the local currency.

A total of 549 plots in various industrial estates of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) are lying unused as the owners did not set up plants within the deadline.