United News of Bangladesh

Trading at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) opened on a downward trend on Sunday, with most listed companies seeing a decline in share prices during the first hour. On the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index slipped by 7 points, while the Shariah-based DSES shed 3 points. The blue-chip DS30 index also dropped by 8 points. The market breadth also remained negative, as prices fell for the majority of traded issues. Against 116 gainers, 200 issues declined, while 56 remained unchanged. Stock market rebounds as DSEX gains 166 points, rises 1.2% over week The DSE recorded turnover of over Tk 160 crore during the first half of the session. A similar downtrend persisted at the CSE, where the broad index fell by 8 points. Of the traded issues, 35 advanced, 48 declined and 7 remained unchanged. The turnover on the CSE stood at Tk 4.10 crore in the early session.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Sunday officially halted all direct customer services, including the sale of savings certificates and prize bonds, exchange of torn or damaged banknotes and automated challan services, following an earlier announcement. The central bank has directed commercial banks to ensure smooth and uninterrupted services in these areas, while intensifying monitoring activities to safeguard the transition. In a notice issued last Thursday, BB highlighted that central banks worldwide do not provide such services directly at their counters. The decision, it said, was also driven by security concerns, which were cited as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI). Originally, the suspension was planned to begin at the Motijheel office from November 30, with other branches following later. BB to halt sale of savings certificates, prize bonds The timeline was, however, advanced, and the central bank decided to stop all direct services at all its offices simultaneously starting today. Until now, BB’s Motijheel office, along with its branches in Sadarghat, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Bogura, Rajshahi, and Sylhet, had been providing these customer services.

The G20 summit in South Africa began with an unexpected development on Saturday as world leaders endorsed a joint declaration at the outset of the meeting, even as the United States boycotted the two-day event in protest against the host nation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed that all participating members backed the 122-point document when the summit opened in Johannesburg. Typically, G20 declarations are signed at the close of proceedings. The agreement, heavily shaped by South Africa, calls for greater international support for vulnerable nations facing climate-driven disasters and mounting debt—areas the hosts had championed as priorities for the first G20 summit held on African soil. The U.S., absent on the orders of President Donald Trump, had reportedly urged South Africa not to move forward with a leaders’ declaration in its absence. The summit has been clouded by the U.S. boycott, part of a broader diplomatic dispute with Pretoria. As Ramaphosa began what was supposed to be a closed-door session, his remarks about adopting the declaration were inadvertently broadcast, prompting South Africa’s foreign minister to intervene and remind him that cameras were still live. While the South African government insisted the declaration was unanimously approved, Argentina distanced itself from the document. President Javier Milei also skipped the summit in solidarity with Trump, sending his foreign minister as a representative instead. Talks on Ukraine on the sidelines Officials from France, Germany, the U.K., Canada and Japan held discussions on the margins of the summit regarding a U.S.-brokered peace plan for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said representatives from several European countries, the EU, the U.S., and Ukraine would meet in Switzerland on Sunday to continue talks. The proposal, shaped by Washington and Moscow, includes concessions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected, such as ceding territory. Deals and diplomacy mark Trump–Saudi Crown Prince meeting A joint statement from multiple Western nations said the plan required further work and reaffirmed that national borders “must not be changed by force.” South Africa pushes for support for poorer nations Holding the rotating G20 presidency, South Africa used the summit to call for stronger global commitments to help developing countries rebuild after climate-linked disasters, reduce debt burdens, move toward renewable energy, and benefit from their own natural resources. But Washington's absence loomed large. Trump accused South Africa of violently targeting its Afrikaner white minority and has opposed the summit's agenda, particularly its emphasis on climate change and inequality. Despite the tension, several leaders urged cooperation. “I regret it,” French President Emmanuel Macron said of Trump’s boycott, “but it should not stop our work.” The G20—comprising 19 nations, the European Union and the African Union—represents the bulk of the world’s economy and population, yet relies on consensus, which is often difficult to achieve among powers with competing interests. Strains over the declaration and U.S. handover G7 ministers reaffirm support for Ukraine, sidestep trade and military strike debates South Africa said the U.S. had pressured it to water down the summit declaration into a non-binding host’s statement. Ramaphosa responded firmly, saying the country “will not be bullied.” The U.S. is set to assume the G20 presidency after the summit, but only a U.S. embassy official will attend the handover ceremony, which South African officials described as disrespectful and said may not be conducted formally. Source: AP 

After two consecutive weeks of decline, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) showed signs of recovery last week, with the benchmark DSEX index rising 166 points and average daily turnover increasing over 12 percent. Analysis of DSE’s weekly report shows the index started the week at 4,702 points and ended at 4,869 points, marking a 3.54 percent increase over the week. The upward trend was mirrored in both Shariah-based and blue-chip indices. The DSES index rose 41 points, up 4.23 percent, while the DS30 gained 26 points, a 1.43 percent increase. Mid- and small-cap companies also saw significant recovery, with the DSE SME index climbing 95 points, a 13 percent jump. Market turnover increased alongside the indices. Although still below the 4-billion-taka daily average mark, trading rose 12.19 percent from 354 crore taka to 397 crore taka per day. Most companies saw price gains during the week. Out of the listed firms, 347 witnessed price increases, 18 declined, and four remained unchanged. Taufika Foods and Lovello Ice-cream PLC topped the weekly turnover list, with an average daily trading value of 12 crore taka, followed by Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Limited at 11 crore taka. Anwar Galvanizing Ltd, Summit Alliance Port Limited, and Square Pharmaceuticals PLC recorded average daily turnovers of 10 crore taka each. On the block market, Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Limited led sales with 21 crore taka, followed by Prime Bank PLC at 20 crore taka. All top-traded stocks at DSE were Z-category companies, known for not distributing dividends. Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited led the list, with its shares rising over 51 percent during the week, from 8.50 taka to 12.90 taka, despite having suspended production and dividend payments since 2020. Among dividend-paying companies, Simtex Industries PLC saw the steepest fall, with its shares dropping 16 percent over the week, from 32.90 taka to 27.50 taka. Sector-wise, 13 out of 21 sectors posted gains while eight saw declines. The ceramic sector recorded the highest increase at 203 percent, whereas corporate bonds fell the most, down 64 percent. Financial sector shares were largely bullish. Non-bank financial institutions rose 47 percent, banks gained 30 percent, general insurance 13 percent, and life insurance 3 percent. Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also mirrored DSE’s recovery, with the CASPI index climbing 241 points.   Weekly turnover stood at 46 crore taka, led by A-category dividend-paying companies with a 73 percent surge. B-category mid-tier firms saw a 16 percent increase, and Z-category non-dividend stocks rose 10 percent. At CSE, 196 companies ended the week with price gains, 68 fell, and 11 remained unchanged. Z-category companies dominated the top positions, with Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited leading, posting a 55 percent weekly gain. Simtex Industries PLC was at the bottom, losing more than 18 percent in a week. Orion Infusion Limited recorded the highest weekly turnover at 14 crore taka.

Bangladesh's garment industry is strategically pivoting towards technical textiles, a high-value sector deemed "essential for the continued success" of the country’s manufacturing future.  This information was revealed in a press conference held at a hotel in Dhaka, on Thursday, ahead of ‘Techtextil and Texprocess’ scheduled to be held in April 2026. Ms Afroza, head of operation, Messe Frankfurt SP Bangladesh highlights the issues in the presentation. This focus was highlighted in a presentation promoting the upcoming Techtextil and Texprocess trade fairs in Frankfurt, Germany. Technical textiles, defined as materials manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetics, represent a large and growing global sector. Frankfurt Fairs Showcase Entire Textile Chain: The twin trade fairs, Techtextil (the leading trade fair for technical textiles) and Texprocess (the top international trade fair for garment and textile machinery), will be held in parallel from April 21 to 24, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany. Holding both events together allows visitors to observe the entire value chain, from raw fibers and production to innovative fabrics, their end use, and recycling. The 2024 edition attracted 1,699 exhibitors from over 50 countries and a total of 35,180 trade visitors. Germany, Italy, and China were the top exhibiting nations at Techtextil 2024. Technology Focus:Texprocess highlights new technologies focused on boosting efficiency, optimizing resource use, and includes solutions like robot-assisted sewing units and AI-based real-time quality control. Strategic Importance for Bangladesh: Industry experts view the technical textiles sector as a critical growth area, with increasing demand across diverse fields such as healthcare, automotive, construction, and sports.  Techtextil brings together these various application areas, from car manufacturers to medical engineers. The exhibition itself covers 12 key application areas, including Medtech, Protech, and Sporttech. Bangladesh’s importance as a strategic sourcing destination for technology and material is underscored by its recognition as one of the five most important countries for visitors to Texprocess, alongside Italy, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia. At the 2024 edition, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) organized a dedicated pavilion. Five Bangladeshi companies participated to showcase their potential in the technical textile segment, including Akij Jute Mills, Team Manufacturing Company, Smee Apparels, M & A Sourcing Bangladesh, and NexGen Apparel. The push into functional textiles marks a major step in the country's efforts to move beyond basic apparel manufacturing toward higher value-added products.

Bangladesh has posted a strong rebound in the US apparel market, recording a sharp 19.82 percent rise in export value during January–August 2025, according to newly released US trade data. However, exports from Bangladesh showed a decline, with July figures at $729.81 million dropping to $660.79 million in August, indicating a downward trend. The latest reciprocal tariff effects are not yet visible in the Otexa data, as Otexa is still reporting August figures, and the tariff was only implemented on 7 August 2025, former Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mohiuddin Rubel told UNB on Thursday.  The jump pushed Bangladesh’s exports to the US to US$5.64 billion, far ahead of the modest 3.32 percent overall increase in America’s global apparel imports over the same period (January-August). Industry analysts say the surge was powered primarily by volume growth, supported by stable unit prices.The unit price per piece from Bangladesh saw a slight increase of 1.08 percent, indicating that the growth was largely volume-driven, with suppliers maintaining stable pricing amidst global competition. Globally, the US imported $53.01 billion in apparel, registering a 3.32 percent rise in value, a 1.41 percent growth in units (SME), and a 1.88 percent increase in unit price. The impressive gains by Bangladesh and other nations come at a time when the world’s largest apparel exporter, China, is experiencing a dramatic decline. China’s exports to the US saw a significant negative growth of -25.45 percent in value and a large -18.90 percent drop in pieces shipped. This retreat from the dominant supplier is creating opportunities that are being seized by manufacturers across South and Southeast Asia. Although Bangladesh and China represented the extremes, other Asian manufacturing hubs showed strong, though varying results. Cambodia showed the highest overall growth, with its export value soaring by 28.62 percent and pieces shipped seeing a "huge increase" of 37.87 percent. However, this volume push came at a cost, as its unit price fell by -6.71 percent. India and Indonesia both recorded robust value growth, rising by 16.09%** and 15.96 percent respectively, reflecting their growing competitiveness. Vietnam, another major player, registered a solid 15.69 percent increase in value, while maintaining its unit price with a small 0.64 percent rise—a performance similar to Bangladesh's. Pakistan saw a 13.40 percent rise in value, supported by a 20.25% surge in volume, but like Cambodia, it experienced a -5.70% decline in its unit price. The data, shared by Mohiuddin Rubel, Managing Director of the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, indicates a strategic consolidation of Bangladesh’s position in its largest export market — despite marginal contractions in overall US import demand.

The U.S. trade deficit dropped nearly 24% in August as President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs on global imports drove down purchases from other countries. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the gap between U.S. imports and exports fell to $59.6 billion in August from $78.2 billion in July. The report, delayed more than seven weeks due to a federal government shutdown, showed imports of goods and services declined 5% to $340.4 billion, following a July surge when companies stocked up ahead of Trump’s tariffs, which took effect on Aug. 7. Exports edged up 0.1% to $280.8 billion. Trump has long argued that persistent trade deficits reflect foreign countries taking advantage of the U.S., prompting him to abandon decades of free-trade policy and impose double-digit tariffs on most imports. Specific goods, including steel, copper, and automobiles, have faced separate levies. Despite the August drop, the U.S. trade deficit for 2025 remains higher than last year, totaling $713.6 billion through August — a 25% increase from $571.1 billion in the same period of 2024. Economists note that lower imports can boost economic growth since foreign goods are subtracted from gross domestic product (GDP). “August’s smaller trade deficit will support third-quarter real GDP because more U.S. spending went toward domestic goods and services rather than foreign ones,” said Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank. He added that while the report is somewhat dated due to the shutdown, it reinforces evidence of robust third-quarter growth. Trump has defended the tariffs as a way to protect U.S. industries and encourage domestic manufacturing. Importers typically pass the added costs to consumers, which economists say has contributed to inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Asian shares mostly slip after Wall Street’s weak finish Following voter concerns about high living costs, the president recently removed tariffs on products including beef, coffee, tea, fruit juice, cocoa, spices, bananas, oranges, tomatoes, and some fertilizers. Meanwhile, the legality of Trump’s tariffs faces a Supreme Court challenge, with justices questioning whether the president can impose unlimited import taxes by declaring a national emergency. Source: AP 

After two consecutive reductions, gold prices in the domestic market have surged again, with the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) raising the rate by Tk 2,612 per bhori for 22-carat gold. The new price has been set at Tk 209,520 per bhori, effective from Thursday. BAJUS announced the revised rates in a statement issued on Wednesday night, citing an increase in the price of pure gold (tejaabi gold) in the local market as the main reason for the adjustment. As per the new tariff, the price of 22-carat gold per bhori (11.664 grams) will be Tk 209,520. The price of 21-carat gold has been fixed at Tk 200,003 per bhori, 18-carat gold at Tk 171,426 per bhori, and traditional gold at Tk 142,592 per bhori. In addition to the selling price, buyers must pay a mandatory 5 percent government VAT and a minimum 6 percent BAJUS-set making charge. However, the making charge may vary depending on the design and craftsmanship of the jewellery. Earlier, on November 18, BAJUS last adjusted gold prices, lowering the 22-carat rate by Tk 1,364 to Tk 206,908 per bhori. With this latest revision, gold prices have been adjusted 79 times so far this year, 54 increases and 25 decreases. Despite the price hike, silver rates remain unchanged. A bhori of 22-carat silver is still selling at Tk 4,246 in the domestic market.

Bangladesh’s stock market continued to show signs of recovery on Wednesday, with both bourses closing higher as indices maintained their upward momentum. The DSEX, the key index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), advanced for the fourth consecutive session, gaining 54 points. The Shariah-based DSES rose by 11 points, while the blue-chip DS30 edged up by 3 points. Most issues traded at the DSE closed higher, as 310 gained against 36 losers, while 30 remained unchanged. However, the turnover at the DSE declined to Tk 420 crore, compared to Tk 475 crore in the previous session. In the block market, 17 companies saw transactions worth Tk 18 crore, with Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Ltd topping the list with Tk 5 crore in block trades. Rahima Food Corporation Ltd led the day’s gainers, surging by 10%, while Information Services Network Ltd ended at the bottom, shedding nearly 5%. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also extended its gains for the third straight day, with the CASPI rising by 114 points. DSE in talks with govt agencies to protect investors of merged banks: Chairman Here too, most issues advanced: 125 gained, 25 declined and 10 remained unchanged. The turnover on the port-city bourse stood at Tk 9 crore, down from Tk 11 crore in the previous session. Aftab Automobiles Ltd topped the CSE gainers with a 10% jump, while Aamra Technologies Ltd slipped more than 9% to finish at the bottom.  

Stocks opened higher at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) on Wednesday, with most companies posting gains in the first hour of trading. During the opening hour, DSE’s benchmark index, DSEX, gained 46 points, while the Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 indices each advanced 10 points. Out of 302 traded companies, prices increased for 302, declined for 24, and remained unchanged for 46. The turnover on the DSE exceeded Tk 180 crore in the first hour. Stocks open higher at DSE, CSE The CSE also saw an upbeat start, with its overall index rising by 59 points. Among 102 traded issues, 72 advanced, 18 declined, and 12 remained unchanged. The first-hour turnover at the CSE crossed Tk 3 crore.