Jagaran Chakma

The country’s growing non-leather footwear industry now faces a major setback as a steep new tariff from the United States threatens its growth

In a densely packed city like Dhaka, few real estate firms stand out in the public memory. But Concord is an exception. After all, it built the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar — in just 89 days, and 43 years ago.

Bangladesh’s construction sector, one of the country’s largest sectors, is reeling from a sharp contraction in public project implementation and spending, underscoring growing stress across the broader economy, according to industry insiders and analysts.

This net inflow was 114 percent higher than the $403 million recorded in the same period a year earlier.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports have more than doubled over the past seven years, reaching $213 million in the just-concluded fiscal year 2024-2025, thanks to the entry into fresh markets and a wave of new products.

Uncertainty looms over Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports to the US market, as President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent.

Motorcycle sales are showing signs of recovery after a slow patch of nearly three years, due mainly to easing consumer prices, lower registration costs, and aggressive marketing by manufacturers.

The country’s private sector remains hamstrung by red tape, political uncertainty, and rising costs, all of which pose a serious threat to economic progress, according to Mohammed Amirul Haque, founding managing director and chief executive officer of Premier Cement Mills Limited.

Banks charge SMEs interest rates ranging between 13 and 15 percent, among the highest across all sectors except services.

Bangladesh’s exporters fear losses as India has barred the import of several products—including some jute items—through land ports, threatening crucial trade flows and millions of dollars in earnings.

Bangladesh's delicious mangoes: untapped economic potential, requiring a national strategy

Bangladesh must urgently adopt a strategic, reform-driven foreign direct investment (FDI) policy by removing existing barriers to attract and retain investment to remain competitive in the region, experts suggest.

Bangladesh’s non-leather footwear sector is emerging as a steering force in the country’s export landscape, driven by global shifts in consumer preferences, strong manufacturing capacity, and competitive pricing

Non-leather footwear exports rose 30.25% in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year

Consumers are likely to pay more for a range of home appliances, from rice cookers and clothing irons to air conditioners (ACs), as the government phases out value-added tax (VAT) exemptions on locally manufactured electronics.

The budget for FY26 has drawn strong criticism from business leaders who say it lacks a clear roadmap for improving the investment climate, bolstering industrial competitiveness, and implementing overdue reforms in the banking sector.

The government is going to expand import duty exemptions on pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment, with 79 new items expected to be added to the duty-free list in the upcoming national budget.

The government is considering reducing customs duty on seven imported tanning chemicals in the upcoming national budget, offering slight relief to the country’s struggling tannery sector.

Private investment as a percentage of the gross domestic product has slumped to its lowest level in five years, stoking fears over waning business confidence and a slowdown in job creation.

Scrapping the price range cap for bids, making e-GP mandatory for all public procurement and allowing NGOs to compete for tenders, the government has overhauled the public procurement law.