Business

UK public sector borrowing last month hit the highest total for April since the Covid pandemic in 2020, highlighting the challenges facing the government. Borrowing, the difference between spending and income from taxes, was £24.3bn last month, official figures showed, which was up £4.9bn from a year earlier and higher than expected. Separate data showed retail sales volumes fell in ...

Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters apologised for the upset caused to staff by his remarks about artificial intelligence replacing “lower value” human workers, but stopped short of retracting the comments on Friday. Bank bosses in recent weeks have been more forthright about the job cuts they expect to make as AI makes routine tasks more efficient, having previously avoided a ...

Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, Riyadh Air, is set to launch daily direct Dhaka-Riyadh flights on August 1, intensifying competition in Bangladesh’s booming Saudi Arabia aviation market driven by expatriate and Umrah travel demand. The Saudi carrier’s entry is expected to reshape one of Bangladesh’s busiest international aviation markets, currently dominated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines and Saudia. “We ...

Imports of high-tariff goods such as vehicles, electronics and cosmetics have fallen sharply in Bangladesh, dealing a major blow to revenue collection at Chattogram Custom House, the country’s largest revenue-generating customs station. As a result, the customs authority is heading towards another significant revenue shortfall in the 2025-26 fiscal year. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) set a revenue collection ...

After being reduced in three consecutive phases, gold prices have now increased in the domestic market. The price of 22-carat gold has been raised by Tk2,158 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk238,121 per bhori. According to a press release issued by the Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association (BAJUS) on Thursday (21 May) morning, the new price of 22-carat gold has ...

Gold prices in Bangladesh have been reduced by Tk2,158 per bhori, with the price of 22-carat gold now set at Tk235,963, according to the Bangladesh Jeweller’s Association (BAJUS). In a statement issued on Wednesday (20 May) morning, BAJUS said the new prices were fixed considering the overall market situation, particularly a decline in the price of pure gold (tejabi gold) ...

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Tuesday said responsible business conduct is no longer an optional matter, but has become a crucial factor in ensuring competitiveness in international trade, attracting investment and securing market access. He made the remarks while addressing a national dialogue titled “Responsible Business Conduct for Resilient Supply Chains and Trade Competitiveness” held at a local hotel ...

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has defended the government’s decision to approve a Tk 3,00,000 crore Annual Development Programme for fiscal year 2026 27, saying large scale public investment is crucial to lift Bangladesh out of economic stagnation. Speaking to reporters after the National Economic Council meeting in Sher e Bangla Nagar on Monday, Khosru said ambitious ...

The World Bank (WB) has approved an additional 350 million dollars in financing to help Bangladesh secure liquefied natural gas supplies and reinforce its energy security as global fuel markets remain volatile. The funding, cleared on 15 May under the Energy Sector Security Enhancement Project, is designed to help Bangladesh manage rising risks in international energy markets and reduce exposure ...

The government has instructed all filling stations across the country to remain open round the clock on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. To ensure smooth travel for passengers during the festival, the government has decided to keep CNG filling stations open for 13 consecutive days. Recently, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division sent a letter regarding the matter to the Chairman ...