Jagaran Chakma

The business community had to toe the government line during the Awami League rule of the past 15 years, Mohammed Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement Mills, told The Daily Star in an interview recently.

Steelmakers in Bangladesh are facing a severe working capital shortage due to the sharp rise in the US dollar exchange rate and a slowdown in sales, according to industry insiders.

Says Ashik Chowdhury, head of government’s key investment promotion agencies BIDA, BEZA

The head of DCCI has urged the government to map out its economic priorities once the committee to prepare a white paper on the economy, and other task forces on various reform agendas finish their jobs.

The demand for consumer electronics in the mid to high-end categories has declined drastically in Bangladesh as most people are shifting to cheaper alternatives or avoiding purchases altogether amid persistent inflation.

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) is considering utilising unused land to establish solar power parks at the Mirsharai Economic Zone in Chattogram, the largest industrial enclave in the country.

Kihak Sung, chairman of Youngone Corporation and a pioneer in Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) and textile sectors, has been instrumental in the country’s rise as a major global exporter.

Services rendered by government agencies through a single-window platform to facilitate business remain marred by unscrupulous activities, despite expectations of improvement among entrepreneurs under the interim government.

In an effort to curb stubbornly high inflation, the central bank’s latest interest rate hike has sparked concerns among the business community as they argue that the increased cost of borrowing will strain their existing ventures and dampen future expansion plans.

Grocery shelves are not clearing as quickly for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), while many are switching to mini-packs of food and toiletries -- indicating that people are losing ground in their prolonged battle against inflation.

It was once beyond anyone’s wildest imagination that Bangladesh would become a motorcycle manufacturing hub. Only seven years ago, the country relied on imports to meet 95 percent of its demand for motorbikes.

After successful trials, three local drug makers are set to begin full-fledged commercial production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at the BSCIC API Industrial Park at Gazaria in Munshiganj.

The country’s steel production fell significantly in September compared to the previous year as the industry reeled from a damaging slump in demand and subsequent price reduction.

Luxury apartment sales have dwindled to almost nil ever since the recent political changeover as people have become cautious about spending amid the ensuing economic uncertainty, according to industry insiders.

The recent rise in travellers comes as a relief for the tourism industry in Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Sylhet as these regions were suffering from low turnout in July, August and September this year.

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) yesterday unveiled the export data for the July-September period of fiscal year 2024-25 and officially acknowledged that there was a $3.16 billion export data mismatch in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Sales of luxury sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have been almost nil since July this year as customers have reined in spending amid the ongoing economic downturn and sudden political changeover in Bangladesh.

Empty hotels, unsold fruits at roadside vendors and idle jeeps at stands -- these are the adverse sights in the south-eastern hill districts of Khagrachhari and Rangamati, two popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh, following the recent deadly violence.

The demand for steel in Bangladesh has almost halved over the past two months as most construction works have been halted following the recent political changeover, according to industry people.

Confidence Cement PLC, a cement maker based in Chattogram, is investing Tk 815 crore to set up a new production facility on 10 acres of land in Narsingdi and cater to the future demand..The move comes at a time when cement sales have nearly halved over the past few months as most private a