Business

 Bangladesh is currently the fifth top bicycle exporter to Europe, though it was itself an importer a decade back. Businessmen in the country see a huge export potential for bicycles because of their growing popularity in developed nations as an environment-friendly mode of transport. They expect a sharp rise in bike exports to the European market following its economic recovery. ...

The government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday concluded a 15-day joint review of ADB-assisted projects in Bangladesh to further improve development results, Senior government officials, project directors, and ADB staff members from its headquarters and the Bangladesh Resident Mission participated in the review, said a press release. The review programme concluded through a wrap-up meeting which ...

The British government’s final budget before a May election contains perks for older voters and a “Google tax” on companies that shift profits overseas, according to Sunday newspapers. Chancellor George Osborne’s budget due to be announced Wednesday will end restrictions on the sale of annuities, allowing pensioners to swap regular retirement incomes for lump sums, the reports said. “The chancellor ...

By Mahfuz Kabir Once Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results”. Exactly in an opposite story, Robert Bruce spoke about a spider that tried seven times to eventually succeed in spinning her web. However, economists are in-between. They have scientifically rigorous theories and models which are proved in laboratories but not ...

The Economist in its latest issue commented that it is unclear whether there is any peaceable way out in Bangladesh. An article of the London-based news magazine titled ‘Politics in Bangladesh on the boil,’ said an adviser to Mrs Zia thinks a UN-monitored election would be one possibility. However, the UN squandered much of its credibility in this context during ...

The exports and production of shrimp have been severely affected by the ongoing political turmoil. Over 10,000 tonnes of shrimp, the market value of which is estimated at Tk. 1,452 crore, are lying in warehouses across the country. Exporters, including local buyers, are not much interested in buying shrimp from farmers, as they fear the items would not be transported ...

Bangladesh Bank (BB) will assess the loss to the political violence during the ongoing countrywide blockade and recurring hartals, a central bank official told BSS  yesterday. “The central bank will assess the losses on monthly basis and will compare the current situation with the cost of political violence that the country saw in 2013”, BB executive directive M Mahfuzur Rahman ...

Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque has called upon the Canadian government to increase imports of Bangladeshi ships, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, electronics and IT products. He highlighted the congenial investment atmosphere prevailing in Bangladesh and laid the importance on having a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Canada, according to a statement. The Foreign Secretary made the call during a ...

House prices in the UK rose by 9.8% in the year to December, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That was slightly lower than November’s rate, which stood at 9.9%, but prices were still growing “strongly”, the ONS said. Prices rose fastest in England at 10.2%, and by 5.5% in Scotland, 4.9% in Northern Ireland and 4% in ...

UK manufacturing growth picks up UK economic growth hits 2.6% in 2014 The UK’s service sector expanded faster than expected in January after a relatively slow pace of growth in December, a survey has suggested. The purchasing managers’ index from Markit/CIPS rose to 57.2 in January compared with December’s reading of 55.8, which was a 17-month low.A figure above 50 indicates expansion.Markit ...