United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s stock markets extended their downward trend on Thursday, the last trading day of the week, with key indices of both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) closing lower amid thin trading. At the DSE, the benchmark DSEX index shed 22 points at the end of the session. Among the other indices, the Shariah-based DSES gained 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 rose by 9 points. Market breadth remained negative as prices of 254 companies declined against advances in 69, while shares of 68 companies remained unchanged. Block trades saw shares of 25 companies worth Tk 24 crore change hands, with Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) accounting for the highest turnover of Tk 6 crore. Total turnover on the DSE stood at Tk 303 crore, the lowest of the week, down from Tk 375 crore in the previous session. BD Thai Food & Beverage Limited topped the gainers’ list on the DSE, rising by over 5 percent, while Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited emerged as the top loser, shedding more than 6 percent. The bearish trend was also evident at the CSE, where the overall CASPI index dropped 69 points. Out of the traded issues, prices of 76 companies declined, while 36 advanced and 23 remained unchanged. The turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 4.50 crore during the session, down from Tk 5.80 crore in the previous trading day. Doreen Power Generations and Systems Limited topped the CSE gainers with a rise of over 9 percent, while Sena Insurance PLC hit the bottom, losing 10 percent.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) on Thursday appointed Nuzhat Anwar as the Managing Director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). DSE Board Chairman Mominul Islam welcomed the decision, saying, “We are pleased to receive BSEC’s approval for Nuzhat’s appointment. After a rigorous selection process over the past year, we are confident that she is the right leader to drive the transformation of DSE.” Nuzhat brings over 20 years of experience in financial markets, banking and development finance, said a press release. She most recently served at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, holding senior leadership roles across Africa and South Asia. DSE launches Help Desk to improve investor information services Her roles included Resident Representative for Liberia and Sierra Leone, Senior Country Officer for Bangladesh covering Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, and Acting Cluster Manager during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, she helped establish IFC’s presence in Botswana and Namibia, facilitating the institution’s first investment in Botswana and promoting sustainable investment programmes. She also spent 16 years with Citibank Bangladesh and Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh in senior management positions.  

Opsonin Pharma Limited, one of the country’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, held its Annual Sales Conference 2026 on Thursday at the International Convention Centre, Bashundhara. The company has recorded consistent and notable sales growth over the past several years and maintained this momentum throughout 2025, said a press release on Thursday. According to the IMS Report for the second quarter of 2025, Opsonin Pharma currently ranks among the top-performing pharmaceutical companies in terms of sales in Bangladesh. Alongside meeting domestic market demand, the company has also been expanding its international presence by exporting pharmaceutical products to a number of countries worldwide. The conference was attended by all field-level officials of the company. Among the distinguished participants were Opsonin Pharma Chairman Captain (Retd) Abdus Sabur Khan, Managing Director Abdur Rauf Khan, Deputy Managing Director Abdur Rakib Khan, Director (Sales and Marketing) Md Abdul Momen Talukdar, Assistant General Managers (Sales) Md Mahmudul Haque and Debojite Chandra Bhowmick, and Assistant General Managers (PMD) Taj Md Aga Menon and Md Akhtar Hossain, along with other senior officials. During the programme, Director (Sales and Marketing) Md Abdul Momen Talukdar presented an overview of the current pharmaceutical market scenario, highlighting marketing strategies and the company’s future vision. He also outlined Opsonin Pharma’s goals, objectives and strategic policy directions aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and further strengthening its leadership position in the market.

Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) on Thursday launched an Information Help Desk aimed at making capital market-related information more accessible and effective for investors and other stakeholders. The help desk was formally inaugurated by DSE Managing Director (acting) Mohammad Asadur Rahman at the exchange premises. “Infrastructure through the Information Help Desk will make the dissemination of capital market-related information easier and ensure quick and effective responses to various queries from investors and stakeholders. This will further enhance DSE’s service quality, making it more customer-friendly and transparent,” Asadur said. He expressed optimism that the initiative would play a significant role in boosting market participants’ confidence in the exchange. Investors and stakeholders can obtain capital market-related information by contacting the help desk at +88-02-41040189 and 09666-702070, he added. DSE Chief Technology Officer Dr Asifur Rahman, Chief Financial Officer Md Samiul Islam, Chief Regulatory Officer Md Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, and other senior officials were present at the event.

Trading at both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges began on a negative note on Thursday, with key indices falling in the first hour amid declines in most company prices. The benchmark DSEX at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) shed 17 points. The Shariah-based DSES fell by 5 points, while the blue-chip DS-30 index lost 8 points. Out of the traded issues, prices declined for 217 companies against gains for 81, while 86 remained unchanged. The turnover at the DSE crossed Tk 127 crore in shares and units during the first half of the session. Bangladesh stocks slide on week’s opening day at DSE, CSE The downtrend also persisted at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where the general index dropped by 44 points. At the CSE, prices advanced for 25 companies, declined for 43 and remained unchanged for 11 issues. The port city bourse recorded a turnover of Tk 2 crore in shares and units in the first half.

Japan recorded a 6% increase in exports in November from a year earlier, buoyed by a recovery in shipments to the United States, which rose for the first time since March after trade-related uncertainty eased following a tariff deal with the Trump administration. Preliminary figures released Wednesday showed imports edged up 1.3% year-on-year, resulting in a trade surplus of 322.2 billion yen (about $2.1 billion). Exports to the U.S. jumped nearly 9%, driven by stronger shipments of automobiles, chemicals and cameras, offsetting weaker demand for machinery and iron and steel. On the import side, purchases of U.S. oil almost tripled, while imports of grain and other food items also rose sharply. Under the tariff agreement with Washington, most Japanese goods face a baseline import duty of 15%, instead of the previously proposed 25%. That helped lift passenger vehicle exports by 8% in volume terms, though their total value increased just 1.5%, suggesting automakers absorbed much of the higher tariff costs rather than passing them on to buyers. Imports from the U.S. climbed more than 7%, yet Japan still posted a trade surplus with its largest trading partner of 739.8 billion yen ($4.7 billion), an 11% increase from a year earlier. Luxury car sales slide in China as economic slowdown hurts European automakers Exports to the European Union surged about 20%, supported by stronger demand for machinery, vehicles and other manufactured products. By contrast, shipments to China slipped 2.4%, reflecting weaker exports of chemicals, machinery and vehicles amid diplomatic strains. Oxford Economics’ Norihiro Yamaguchi said higher tariffs will likely continue to restrain exports, though he expects Japan’s overseas shipments to strengthen next year, aided by spillover effects from robust U.S. spending on artificial intelligence. Source: AP 

The cost of a government project for strengthening the production, storage and distribution of quality seed potatoes has increased sharply due to repeated delays in implementation. With the latest revision, the total estimated cost has risen to Tk 1,138.74 crore from the originally approved Tk 688.21 crore, according to official documents. The project, titled “Strengthening Production, Preservation and Farmer-Level Distribution of Quality Seed Potato,” has undergone its second revision. Alongside the cost escalation, the completion deadline has been extended by another two years. The Ministry of Agriculture is the sponsoring ministry, while the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation is implementing the project. The project cost was first revised to Tk 727.43 crore. Continued delays caused by extended construction schedules, additional infrastructure needs and higher operational expenses have pushed the proposed budget much higher, said officials. Most of the revised cost will be financed by government funds with a smaller share will come from the BADC’s own resources. The implementation period initially ran from September 2019 to June 2024. It was later extended to June 2025 and has now been further prolonged until June 2027. Officials involved in the project said the extended timeline has directly contributed to higher spending, particularly on cold storage construction, mechanisation, energy supply, farm-level seed production and transport-related costs. One of the main reasons for the latest revision is the decision to construct additional cold storage facilities to meet the government’s target of distributing 60,000 tonnes of seed potatoes to farmers by 2030. Existing and ongoing facilities under BADC are expected to provide storage capacity of just over 53,000 tonnes. To address the shortfall, four additional cold storages will be built. The project covers selected districts and upazilas in eight divisions. Its objectives include expanding the availability of disease-free, high-quality seed potatoes, increasing modern storage capacity and improving farmers’ skills through training and demonstrations. Despite the rising cost, the Planning Commission has viewed the revised project positively. By June 2025, financial progress had reached nearly 88 percent, while physical progress stood at around 95 percent. The commission said at successful completion of the project would help boost potato production, strengthen modern and sustainable storage systems and contribute to national food security. Officials added that the revised timeline is necessary to ensure proper completion of newly added infrastructure, including cold storages in northern and central districts, renovation of older facilities and the introduction of solar power in selected storage units. They said that without the extension, the intended benefits of the expanded investment would be difficult to achieve. The project is expected to generate broader economic and social benefits by improving seed quality, stabilising yields, creating rural employment and increasing farmers’ access to improved potato varieties. Potatoes are Bangladesh’s top vegetable crop and a key staple for food security. This year’s production reached a record 1.12 crore metric tonnes, surpassing national demand by around 22 lakh metric tonnes. Cultivated area expanded by 8 percent year on year to 4.92 lakh hectares in fiscal year 2024–25, while total output rose 9 percent from 1.06 crore tonnes a year earlier, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Bangladesh’s capital market failed to recover from the ongoing downturn as indices at both the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) declined for another day. At the close of trading, the DSE’s benchmark index DSEX shed 36 points. The Shariah-based DSES and the blue-chip DS30 index also fell by 7 points each. Most of the traded companies ended in the red, with prices falling for 299 companies, while 48 advanced and 43 remained unchanged. In the block market, shares worth Tk 22 crore of 24 companies were traded, with Fine Foods topping the list by trading shares worth Tk 9 crore. The turnover at the DSE declined to Tk 375 crore, down from Tk 413 crore in the previous session. Dominage Steel Building Systems Limited topped the gainers’ chart, rising more than 5 percent, while AFC Agro Biotech Ltd suffered the highest loss, shedding over 9 percent. The CSE mirrored the DSE’s performance as its overall index CASPI dropped 76 points. DSEX falls, CSE gains in Bangladesh capital market Of the traded issues, prices fell for 103 companies, rose for 41, and remained unchanged for 16. The turnover at the port city bourse edged up slightly to Tk 5.8 crore, compared to Tk 5.1 crore a day earlier. EXIM Bank 1st Mutual Fund topped the gainers at the CSE with a 10 percent rise, while Pacific Denims Limited ended at the bottom, losing 10 percent.  

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur said on Wednesday that recovering laundered money from abroad is a lengthy process and it may four to five years. Dr. Mansur made the remarks while talking to reporters after a meeting with Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat. When asked about the progress in bringing back siphoned funds, he said significant advancement has been made as the government is very sincere regarding this issue. Responding to a question over potential recovery he mentioned the case of former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury in London. “We will be very lucky if this case is resolved quickly. Since they (the accused) did not contest the case, they have lost by default.. I cannot say exactly when the money will arrive—it could be February, March, or possibly by June," Dr. Mansur added. He said other cases depend on formal applications and are subject to long legal processes abroad. "In those instances, there is little we can do to speed it up," he added. Responding to queries regarding the S. Alam Group, the Governor said the conglomerate has filed for international arbitration. "S. Alam has filed for arbitration in Washington against us. It is a case of the thief shouting the loudest.We will contest the case vigorously," the Governor said.

The Trump administration announced Tuesday an expansion of U.S. travel restrictions to include 20 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority, doubling the number of nations affected by limits introduced earlier this year. The updated policy imposes full travel bans on citizens of five new countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria — as well as individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents. Fifteen other countries face partial restrictions, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The rules apply to both visitors and prospective immigrants. The restrictions do not apply to those who already hold U.S. visas, lawful permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, or individuals whose entry is deemed in the U.S. national interest. The measures are set to take effect on Jan. 1. The administration cited concerns over corruption, unreliable civil documentation, high rates of visa overstays, refusal of some countries to accept deportees, and instability as reasons for expanding the restrictions. Officials also pointed to immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and national security considerations. Trump sues BBC for $10 Billion over edited Jan. 6 speech The move follows the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard members over Thanksgiving weekend. Critics argue the expanded ban unfairly targets people based on nationality rather than actual security risks. Advocacy groups also warned that the update removes protections for Afghans eligible for the Special Immigrant Visa, a program for those who assisted U.S. forces. Some affected nations, including Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, said they are urgently seeking clarification from U.S. officials regarding the new restrictions. Meanwhile, the administration eased certain restrictions for Turkmenistan, while tightening rules for Laos and Sierra Leone. The ban on Palestinians builds on earlier measures, now prohibiting Palestinian Authority passport holders from traveling to or emigrating to the United States, citing terrorist activity in the West Bank and Gaza and compromised vetting capabilities due to ongoing conflict. Source: AP