News Analysis / Why cheaper money is failing to unlock investment
20 September 2026
Why is the private sector not borrowing money?
20 September 2026
Why cheaper money is failing to unlock investment
19 September 2026
Over the last couple of years, businesses have raised concerns over high interest rates on loans and urged the Bangladesh Bank (BB) to cut its policy rates to reduce the cost of funds
19 September 2026
Govt’s bank borrowing exceeds FY26 target by over Tk 47,500cr
1 September 2026
The government’s net borrowing from the banking system stood at Tk 165,538 crore in fiscal year (FY) 2025-26, far exceeding its plan for the year amid falling foreign financing and lower-than-expected revenue collection, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.
1 September 2026
Bangladesh more a target than user of anti-dumping: BFTI study
16 August 2026
Bangladesh has barely used its three trade remedy tools -- anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures -- against unfair imports even as it remains a frequent target of such measures abroad, a Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) study has found.
16 August 2026
Frequent power cuts put small businesses under pressure
13 August 2026
Amid the rolling blackouts, some businesses are spending more to produce the same amount of goods, while others are taking much longer to meet delivery deadlines
13 August 2026
Overseas jobs hit five-year low amid Gulf uncertainty
6 August 2026
The number of Bangladeshis leaving for overseas jobs fell to a five-year low in the recently concluded fiscal year 2025-26 as demand from the Middle East weakened amid uncertainty following the US-Israel war on Iran.
6 August 2026
Overseas jobs fall to five-year low amid Middle East uncertainty
5 August 2026
According to BMET, more than 9.69 lakh people left Bangladesh for overseas jobs during the last fiscal year, down 5 percent from a year earlier
5 August 2026
Climate / Salinity creeps deeper inland
28 July 2026
Govt data shows 1 lakh hectares, roughly the size of Munshiganj, turned saline in 15 years
28 July 2026
Proposed 15pc VAT: Plastic crockery to get pricier
Plastic crockery has seen a steady rise in sales over the last several years mainly due to its growing popularity among middle and low-
12 June 2017
Worries over VAT on packaged spices
People will have to pay more to buy packaged powders of spices due to the imposition of uniform 15 percent VAT on these essential cooking ingredients from July 1.
11 June 2017
Twin trouble for housing sector
The imposition of a uniform 15 percent VAT would lead to increased prices of building materials and result in a fall in demand, affecting the country's construction sector and related industries that employ around 30 lakh people.
9 June 2017
Duty on solar panels to hurt green initiatives
The country's solar energy initiatives will face a setback as the government has proposed import duty on solar panels in the budget for fiscal 2017-18.
5 June 2017
Private employees to face strict tax scrutiny
Private sector companies are going to face greater scrutiny in claiming their expenses for employees' salaries.
5 June 2017
Worries there though Muhith assures
Finance Minister AMA Muhith denied that any of the tax hikes would affect the lives of the middle and lower middle class.
3 June 2017
Powered by VAT
Bangladesh is finally going to implement a single and uniform VAT rate, ending the two-and-a-half-decade system of multiple VAT
1 June 2017
Income tax rates, tax-free limit to stay unchanged
The government's move to keep tax-free income threshold and the tax rates on individuals and firms unchanged in the next fiscal
1 June 2017
Excise duty on bank accounts to double next fiscal year
The government is considering doubling the excise duty on bank accounts with large debit or credit balance in fiscal
30 May 2017
Job growth slowest in two decades
Bangladesh's job growth is the slowest in two decades although its economy has been registering faster growth for
29 May 2017
Wealth surcharge collection goes up 24pc
The number of rich people who paid wealth surcharge increased 6.71 percent year-on-year to 11,661 in 2016-17, but analysts say
28 May 2017
More products to be VAT-free in new law
The government is expected to keep larger number of goods and services out of the purview of value-added tax in the new law that is
24 May 2017
A beacon for entrepreneurs
When West Pakistan-based businesses dominated trade and investment in the 1950s and 60s of the country, very few Bangladeshis
19 May 2017
Proceeds from tobacco surcharge remain unused
The health development surcharge collected on all tobacco products has remained unused, although nearly three years have passed
18 May 2017
VAT-free turnover limit likely to be Tk 36 lakh
The government may increase the VAT-free turnover ceiling to Tk 36 lakh from Tk 30 lakh as it looks to appease small and medium firms anxious about the impact the new VAT law would have on their profitability.
17 May 2017
Economists slam switch to quarterly inflation data
The government's decision to switch to release quarterly inflation data from its current monthly practice has been met with criticisms from economists, who said the move would not be good for the economy.
17 May 2017
Food inflation almost doubles in 12 months
Food inflation almost doubled in the month of March, spurred by rising prices of various essentials including rice, which went on to
16 May 2017
Edible Oil: Exemption of VAT likely
The government is likely to waive VAT on edible oil to prevent the risk of price hike of the essential cooking ingredient by dishonest
16 May 2017
VAT rate may be cut to flat 12pc
The government is likely to set a flat 12 percent VAT rate by amending the new VAT law in the face of demands from various quarters, according to finance ministry officials.
10 May 2017
Local industries to get better protection
The government is likely to provide increased protection to domestic industries from imported commodities and
8 May 2017