Friend-shoring reshapes supply chains

Globalisation once promised an economy in which efficiency, cost and comparative advantage determined where goods were produced.
1 April 2026, 00:00 AM

Inland cargo transport at risk as lighters starved of fuel

Lighter vessels are facing fuel shortages that are slowing and disrupting their regular operations to unload cargo from mother ships at Chattogram port’s outer anchorage.
1 April 2026, 00:00 AM

Amazon, Delta team up for in-flight Wi-Fi, challenging Musk's Starlink

Amazon won its first such deal last year with JetBlue to provide Leo service on a quarter of ​the airline's fleet starting in 2027
31 March 2026, 17:27 PM

Eliminate taxes on newsprint imports to save newspapers: Noab

The association said the cost structure, alongside rising global paper prices and Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imports, has placed the sector under severe financial stress
31 March 2026, 16:02 PM

Reciprocal trade deal with US limits Bangladesh’s energy options: Debapriya

It is now a matter of concern for the government whether economic engagement with China and Russia will be impeded
31 March 2026, 12:31 PM

Regulator approves Bangladesh’s first Orange bond worth Tk 158.5 crore

The bond offers investors tax-exempt financial returns while enabling measurable social impact
31 March 2026, 09:22 AM

Vietnam textile firms strengthen resilience amid rising global risks

Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises are steering through unpredictable global markets, rising transport costs and Middle East conflicts while securing orders, diversifying sources and eyeing domestic growth.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Bangladesh seeks New Zealand’s support for RCEP

Bangladesh has sought New Zealand’s support to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trade pact.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Pharma sector needs urgent reforms

Among the knowledge-driven industries that have placed Bangladesh on the global stage, the pharmaceutical sector stands out as one of its most notable success stories.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Foreign loan commitments rise, but disbursal slows

Bangladesh secured higher foreign loan commitments in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, yet actual disbursement fell by 26 percent compared with the same period last year, raising concerns about the country’s ability to use external funds effectively.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Starlink gains just 3,500 users after 8 months in Bangladesh

Elon Musk’s Starlink has received a lukewarm response in Bangladesh in the first eight months since its launch in the country, as prices up to ten times higher than local broadband fail to attract subscribers.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

WTO conference concludes without major agreements

The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded early yesterday with no significant agreements, except promises to continue working towards consensus on disputed issues among member countries.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Farmers pay more for fertilisers despite no major shortage

Mamunur Rashid expects to harvest his Boro paddy and maize in the coming months. The crops need no more fertiliser before reaping, and so far, he has not faced any major supply problem.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Philippines oil refinery secures 2.5m barrels of Russian crude

The Philippines’ sole oil refinery has secured nearly 2.5 million barrels of Russian crude out of “extreme necessity”, a stock exchange filing revealed Monday, as the country seeks to replenish fast-dwindling fuel reserves.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

RMG sector faces headwinds, outlook cautiously moderate: BB

Readymade garment (RMG) export performance in the coming quarters will largely depend on the pace of economic recovery in major importing countries, stabilisation of global supply chains, and the ability of the sector to diversify products and markets, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said in a report.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Mahbub Anam elected BAPA president

Mahbub Anam, managing director of Lal Teer Seed Limited, and Syed Muhammad Shoaib Hasan, managing director of Boyalkhali Agro-based Industries, have been elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA) for a two-year term (2026-28).
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Aristopharma, bKash team up to enable direct stakeholder payouts

Aristopharma Limited, one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical companies, has recently signed an agreement with bKash Limited, the leading mobile financial service (MFS) provider in Bangladesh to disburse payments directly to its stakeholders through bKash.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

China’s neighbours get cold shoulder on energy

As energy stress spreads across Southeast Asia, governments across the region are asking China to deliver on its pledges of closer energy security cooperation by freeing up now-banned exports ​of fertiliser and fuel.
31 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Foreign loan commitments rise, but disbursal slows

Bangladesh secured higher foreign loan commitments in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, yet actual disbursement fell by 26 percent compared with the same period last year, raising concerns about the country’s ability to use external funds effectively.
30 March 2026, 22:02 PM

Civil aviation minister orders zero‑tolerance on Biman luggage theft

Directs Biman to ensure transparency in ticket sales
30 March 2026, 18:53 PM