United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s stock market continued its downward trend for the second consecutive session on Monday, with key indices falling at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and losses also recorded at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index shed 7 points, while the Shariah-based DSES fell 2 points and the blue-chip DS30 lost 9 points by the end of trading. Most stocks ended lower as prices declined for 155 companies against gains for 142, while shares of 93 companies remained unchanged. The turnover also dropped notably, with shares and units worth Tk 309 crore traded during the session, down from Tk 385 crore in the previous day. In the block market, shares of 25 companies worth Tk 25 crore were traded, with Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited topping the list, accounting for Tk 6.9 crore. Sonargaon Textiles Ltd emerged as the top gainer on the DSE, rising by more than 6.5 percent, while International Leasing & Financial Services Limited became the worst performer, shedding nearly 10 percent. The CSE also closed in the red, with its broad-based CASPI index declining by 35 points. On the port city bourse, prices fell for 73 companies, rose for 45, and remained unchanged for 29. The turnover at the CSE dropped sharply to Tk 11 crore from Tk 19 crore in the previous session. Khulna Power Company Limited topped the CSE gainers’ chart with a rise of nearly 10 percent, while Associated Oxygen Limited lost almost 10 percent to end as the day’s worst performer.  

Trading of Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) for Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of Bangladesh’s largest drug manufacturers, is set to be suspended on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) starting from January 2, 2026. The suspension comes after the company failed to publish its audited financial reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024–25 within the mandatory time frame. According to a disclosure on the LSE website, Beximco Pharma was unable to release its final annual results by the December 31, 2025 deadline required under the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Consequently, the exchange is moving to temporarily halt the trading of the company’s GDRs. The company cited ongoing legal complexities as the primary reason for the delay. The dispute involves a decision by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to appoint nine additional independent directors to Beximco Pharma's board following the fall of regime in August 2024. Beximco Pharma challenged this appointment in the High Court, and the matter remains sub-judice. The company stated that the Board of Directors cannot approve the financial reports until the legal status of the board is finalized. Due to the current High Court recess and bench reconstitutions, the case must be heard afresh. A verdict is not expected until at least January 2026, causing a stalemate in the approval process. REVIVAL Group to reopen BEXIMCO Textile, restoring 25,000 jobs While trading will be paused in London, Beximco Pharma clarified that its shares will continue to trade normally on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) in Bangladesh. The company also assured investors that it would continue to provide all necessary disclosures in accordance with AIM rules throughout the suspension period.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has extended the deferred payment period, or usance, for imports of industrial raw materials, aiming to facilitate smoother trade transactions and support the country’s manufacturing sector. The new directive, issued by the Foreign Exchange Policy Department on Monday, adjusts the credit period for importers. The directive, signed by Md Harun-Ar-Rashid, Director of the Foreign Exchange Policy Department, took immediate effect for all authorised foreign exchange dealers in Bangladesh. According to the directive, the central bank has decided that industrial raw materials, including back-to-back imports, agricultural implements, and chemical fertilizers, will now be importable for a usance (deferred payment) period of up to 270 days. This applies to imports under suppliers' or buyers' credit. The circular specifies that the usance period shall be "270 days or the cash conversion cycle, whichever is earlier". This marks a shift from the previous temporary extension of 360 days, which was set to expire on December 31, 2025. The central bank has instructed Authorized Dealers (ADs) to ensure that the estimated cash conversion cycle reflects a ‘realistic position’ based on the customer’s historical operating and transaction trends before allowing these facilities. For back-to-back letters of credit, the usance period will be determined in alignment with the statutory export proceeds repatriation period. But, as per standard policy, this extended usance facility will not apply to imports financed under the Export Development Fund (EDF). This decision follows earlier policy supports (FE Circular No. 08 and FE Circular Letter No. 27) that had temporarily extended the usance period from 180 days to 360 days to facilitate trade during 2025. The new 270-day limit aims to balance the needs of industrial importers with the necessity of maintaining a realistic cash conversion cycle in the country's foreign exchange management.

The country’s stock markets opened on a negative note as key indices at both the Dhaka and Chattogram bourses fell in the first hour of trading on Monday, with most shares ending in the red. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark DSEX shed 21 points within the first hour. The Shariah-based DSES index lost 4 points, while the blue-chip DS-30 index dropped 14 points. Out of the traded issues, prices declined for 209 companies, while 77 companies saw gains and 90 issues remained unchanged. The share and unit turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 100 crore during the first hour of trading. The downtrend also persisted at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the overall index fell by 11 points in early trading. At the port city bourse, prices advanced for 17 companies against declines in 36, while 10 issues remained unchanged. During the first half of the session, the CSE recorded share and unit turnover worth Tk 1.40 crore.    

Asian shares showed a mixed performance on Monday in light trading following a muted post-Christmas session on Wall Street, even as tensions escalated over Taiwan. U.S. futures were largely unchanged. The Chinese military said it dispatched air, naval, and rocket forces to conduct joint exercises near Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory, citing concerns over separatist activity and “external interference.” Taiwan, in response, placed its forces on alert and denounced Beijing as “the biggest destroyer of peace.” The drills followed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Japan could intervene militarily if China acted against the island. The Chinese military did not specifically reference the United States or Japan in its Monday statement. In regional markets, Taiwan’s benchmark index rose 0.8%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 0.3% to 25,887.33, and the Shanghai Composite added 0.3% to 3,975.92. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.2% to 50,663.90. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.9% to 4,207.36, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 declined 0.3% to 8,732.70. Precious metals saw notable movements, with gold dropping 0.4% to $4,535.50 per troy ounce, while silver surged 3% to $79.87 amid supply constraints. Rising demand for safe-haven assets has pushed both metals to record highs this year, bolstered by expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts and dollar weakness. Mining stocks, including Freeport-McMoRan, posted solid gains, climbing 2.2% on Friday. U.S. stock indexes showed little movement after reopening Friday, with the S&P 500 down less than 0.1% at 6,929.94, the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling to 48,710.97, and the Nasdaq dipping 0.1% to 23,593.10. In commodities, U.S. crude rose 60 cents to $57.34 per barrel, Brent crude gained 62 cents to $60.86. The dollar slipped to 156.28 yen, while the euro remained at $1.1770. Source: AP 

Gold prices in Bangladesh have climbed for the eighth consecutive time, with the price of 22-carat gold reaching a new all-time high of Tk 229,431 per bhori (11.664 grams) on Sunday. Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) announced at night that it has increased the price of gold by Tk 1,575 per bhori, a decision that will take effect from Monday morning. BAJUS said the latest adjustment was made considering the overall market situation, particularly the rise in the price of pure gold (tejabi gold) in the local market. Under the new rates, the price of 21-carat gold has been set at Tk 218,992 per bhori, 18-carat gold at Tk 187,732 per bhori, and traditional-method gold at Tk 156,531 per bhori. In addition to the selling price, buyers will have to pay a government-mandated 5 percent VAT and a minimum 6 percent making charge fixed by BAJUS. However, making charges may vary depending on the design and quality of jewellery. BAJUS last revised gold prices on December 27, when it raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 1,574 per bhori to Tk 227,856. With the latest hike, BAJUS has increased gold prices eight times in a row. So far this year, gold prices have been adjusted 91 times in the domestic market — raised on 64 occasions and reduced only 27 times. Meanwhile, silver prices have remained unchanged in the local market. The price of 22-carat silver stands at Tk 6,065 per bhori, while 21-carat silver is selling at Tk 5,774 per bhori, 18-carat silver at Tk 4,957 per bhori, and traditional-method silver at Tk 3,732 per bhori.

Dhaka, Dec 2(UNB)-The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) on Sunday warned that many textile mills are about to shut down due to faulty policy and economic meltdown. The BTMA issued the warning from a press conference held at the Gulshan Club in Dhaka on Sunday. Speaking at the event, BTMA’s present and former leaders emphasized that the US $22 billion industry is past the point of needing simple assistance; it now requires structural rescue measures. They said that the sector has entered the "Intensive Care Unit" (ICU) and requires immediate, large-scale government intervention to survive. Former president of BTMA Mohammad Ali Khokon pointed out that a combination of rising operational costs and a sudden spike in taxes has pushed mill owners to the brink. "The time to save this sector with just 'oxygen' is gone. To bring this $22 billion industry back from the ICU, the government must take massive steps," Khokon said. He criticized the current fiscal policy, noting, “In the previous budget, the textile sector paid 12.5 percent to 15 percent tax. In the current budget, it has jumped to 27 percent. This is a 'death blow' to a struggling industry." Khokon further explained that current yarn sales are barely enough to cover labor wages and gas bills, leaving no room for profit or loan repayments, which is forcing owners to shut down their factories. BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell urged to shut yarns import from neighboring countries to save the country’s textile sector. To stabilize the sector, the BTMA chief proposed several urgent measures: Dedicated Banking Window: Bangladesh Bank should create a separate window specifically for the textile sector with tailored interest rates. Utility Cost Reduction: A significant reduction in gas and electricity prices is essential to lower production costs. Lowering Interest Rates: High bank interest rates are currently unsustainable for spinning mills. Former president Khokon warned that the collapse of the domestic textile industry would have a domino effect on the Readymade Garments (RMG) sector. He cautioned that if local backward linkage (spinning and weaving) fails, the country will become entirely dependent on imports from neighboring countries like India. "If we cannot save our members, a day will come when India might stop exporting cotton, yarn, and fabric. On that day, the backbone of our garment industry will break," he warned. While the current situation is dire, Khokon expressed hope that the upcoming political leadership would recognize the strategic importance of this sector. "We believe and expect that those who take leadership in the coming days will give special priority to this industry," he added. The present BTMA President, Russell, hints that 50 mills have already closed and demanded a policy decision from the government within the next 72 hours. Senior BTMA leaders and textile owners were also present at the press conference.  

Trading at the country’s capital markets ended mixed on the first trading day of the week, with indices falling on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) while advancing at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE). At the DSE, the market witnessed early gains, but the momentum faded after noon as selling pressure intensified. At the close, the benchmark DSEX shed 15 points, while the Shariah-based DSES fell by 5 points and the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 15 points. Out of the traded companies, prices declined for 199 issues against 131 gainers, while 63 issues remained unchanged on the DSE floor. The turnover showed a modest improvement, with shares and units worth Tk 385 crore changing hands, compared to Tk 338 crore in the previous session. In the block market, shares of 19 companies worth Tk 35 crore were traded, with City Bank PLC topping the list by accounting for Tk 8.60 crore. National Life Insurance PLC emerged as the top gainer at the DSE, rising nearly 10 percent, while Jamuna Oil Company Limited lost almost 10 percent to become the worst performer. Meanwhile, the CSE closed higher with its overall index CASPI gaining 9 points. Most stocks advanced on the CSE, as prices of 77 companies increased against declines in 59 issues, while 16 issues remained unchanged. Trading activity surged sharply on the port city bourse, with turnover jumping nearly fourfold to Tk 19 crore, up from Tk 5 crore in the previous session. ML Dyeing Limited topped the CSE gainers’ list with a 10 percent rise, while Bangladesh Finance PLC ended at the bottom, shedding 10 percent.

Bangladesh Bank has stepped up purchases of US dollars from commercial banks to stabilise the foreign exchange market following a sharp rise in inward remittances this year. Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan said on Sunday that the central bank acquired $110 million from three commercial banks through a Multiple Price Auction (MPA) at an exchange rate of Tk 122.30 per dollar. The central bank has acted to prevent significant fluctuations in the exchange rate as commercial banks face a surplus of dollars from the remittance boom. In December alone, Bangladesh Bank has purchased $920 million, bringing total purchases in the current fiscal year, FY2025-26, to $3.05 billion. Remittance flows by expatriate Bangladeshis have shown robust growth. Between December 1 and December 27, the country received $2.75 billion, up 14.03 percent from $1.98 billion during the same period last year. Looking at the broader fiscal year, from July 1 to December 20, Bangladesh received $15.79 billion in remittances, compared with $13.54 billion in the same period of FY2024-25, representing roughly 16.16 percent growth. In November alone, expatriates sent $2.89 billion. Central bank officials attribute the surge to several key factors, including strict anti-Hundi measures to curb illegal money transfers, effective implementation of remittance incentives and improved efficiency and accessibility of formal banking channels for migrants. The sustained inflow of foreign exchange has bolstered the country’s reserves to over $32 billion, providing relief to its overall economy.  

Bangladesh’s capital market opened the week on a positive note as both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded gains during the first hour of trading on Sunday, with most company shares closing higher. At the DSE, the benchmark index DSEX rose by 21 points in the first hour. The Shariah-based DSES index advanced by 3 points, while the blue-chip DS-30 index remained unchanged. Out of 253 companies traded at the DSE during the period, prices of 253 shares increased against 54 that declined, while 77 remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 150 crore in the first hour. Stocks rise in early trade at DSE, fall at CSE The upward trend was also visible at the CSE, where the overall index CASPI gained 25 points. At the port city bourse, share prices of 46 companies rose, 15 declined and 11 remained unchanged. The CSE recorded transactions worth over Tk 1.04 crore in shares and units during the first hour of trading.