Muhith for fixed day for paying taxes

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday advocated introducing a fixed day for paying taxes, which he believes would make the tax return procedure less time…

ADB pledges $120m to scale up capacity

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh yesterday signed an agreements for $120 million in loans to help finance increased transmission capacity of a cross-border electricity link between India and Bangladesh. Senior Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Mohammad Mejbahuddin…

US pledges support in telecom sector

United States Ambassador Marcia Bernicat met State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim at the secretariat in the capital yesterday and conveyed Washington’s continued support for the minister’s efforts to develop the telecommunications sector. Bernicat also expressed her…

Bangladesh seeks duty-free access of products to KSA

Bangladesh has sought duty-free market access of its certain products like textiles and RMGs, leather and leather goods, pharmaceuticals and other agro-items to Saudi market, reports UNB. The request was made during the two-day 11th session of the joint commission between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia…

BB inks deals with 4 pvt banks

Bangladesh Bank yesterday signed separate agreements with four private banks to facilitate long-term financing under the World Bank-funded Financial Sector Support Project (FSSP), reports UNB. Under the agreements, the four banks- Prime Bank, One Bank, Al Arafah Islami Bank and Mutual Trust Bank- can…

Korea to provide $350m for infrastructure

The Korean government has committed EDCF loan of US $ 350 million to Bangladesh's infrastructure development projects, reports UNB. The governments of Bangladesh and Korea yesterday signed the EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund) Framework Arrangement which will enable Bangladesh to obtain…

Matia criticises biofuel production

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, now in the United States, has criticised the multinational corporations for biofuel production. “Although Bangladesh receives policy advice and funds from international organisations, but un-helpful policies like production of biofuel sometimes attempted by…

Foreign aid disbursement up by 3.1pc

Foreign aid disbursement increased by 3.1 per cent in the first four months of the fiscal year compared to the same period a year earlier. During July to October of the current fiscal, foreign aid disbursement stood at $731.45 million and during the corresponding period in last year, the government…

Alcatel deal to boost Nokia�s 5G capability

Nokia's planned takeover of rival network gear maker Alcatel-Lucent will give it far greater scope to invest in new technologies like 5G mobile equipment while cutting costs, its chief executive said on Wednesday ), reports Economic Times.. Rajeev Suri also told Reuters in an interview that the…

Home appliance testing lab starts journey

Country’s first-ever world-class testing lab NUSDAT Universal Testing Services (UTS) has kicked off its journey recently. NUSDAT-UTS, established at Chandra in Gazipur, has achieved accreditation certificate from Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) for meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005,…

Tourism fair kicks off in capital

A three-day Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF), organised by Tour Operators’ Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), began at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) yesterday. Shri Biren Shikder, state minister of youth and sports, who inaugurated the fair as the chief guest, said:…

Australia okays Shell�s takeover of BG Group

AFP, LONDON: Royal Dutch Shell’s planned mega-takeover of British rival BG Group cleared another hurdle yesterday as Australia’s competition commission said it would not oppose the move amid gas market concerns. It means Shell’s £55-billion (US$84-billion, 79 billion-euros) takeover…

Bank of Japan holds fire on stimulus despite recession

AFP, TOKYO: Japan’s central bank yesterday held fire on expanding its monetary easing programme, even as the world’s third-largest economy…

Saudi says oil price slump should not stop investment

AFP, MANAMA: Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi called for sustained investment in new output capacity yesterday despite the slump in world prices. Naimi…

Anti-APEC protests take place in Manila

Large protests are taking place on the streets on the Philippine capital, Manila, where leaders are attending the APEC regional trade summit, reports…

Gender pay gap �may take 118 years to close�: World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum believes it will take another 118 years - or until 2133 - until the global pay gap between men and women is finally closed, reports…