United News of Bangladesh

The proposed national budget has fallen short of meeting the expectations of the business community in fostering a conducive environment for business growth and investment, said Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed in his initial reaction on Monday. “We have seen a few positive steps such as initiatives to control inflation, certain tax waivers, an automated return system, reduction of some advance taxes, the proposal for a central bonded warehouse, and VAT exemption on LNG imports. However, overall, it is a mixed budget, and businesses will still face pressure due to some of the tax burdens,” he said. On the issue of the tax-free income threshold, he noted that it has remained largely unchanged this year. This, he added, will place an additional tax burden on taxpayers—particularly middle-income groups and service holders—from the next fiscal year. Taskeen welcomed the proposed Tk100 crore fund for youth entrepreneurs as a positive initiative, but expressed concern that online sellers will face additional costs, which could discourage new startups. He pointed out that although internet costs have been reduced, the proposed VAT hike on mobile phones may hinder progress in the country’s digitisation process. Expressing dissatisfaction over the proposed increase in import duty on automobile spare parts—from 10 percent to 25 percent—he warned that this would adversely affect the local automotive industry. TIB comes down hard on govt for retaining black money whitening provision The DCCI President also termed the revenue collection target as ambitious and said that the government's continued reliance on indirect taxes poses a challenge. Taskeen further cautioned that the government’s dependency on local banks to meet the budget deficit would reduce credit flow to the private sector. He criticised the proposal to raise the turnover tax from 0.6 percent to 1 percent, saying it would raise the cost of doing business. Taskeen urged the government to lower the cost of borrowing for businesses, suggesting an ideal rate between 6 and 7 percent to support growth. Finally, Taskeen stressed the importance of quality implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and called for austerity in government expenditure.

Bangladesh Bank has awarded privately owned NRBC Bank a ‘Letter of Appreciation,’ as the best participant in the international program on financial inclusion. On Sunday (June 1), NRBC Bank Managing Director and CEO Dr. Md. Touhidul Alam Khan received the letter of appreciation from Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman. Bangladesh Bank’s Financial Inclusion Department Executive Director, Md. Saiful Islam Khan was present on the occasion. The Financial Inclusion Department of Bangladesh Bank awarded this recognition to 10 banks that participated in the experience exchange and product exhibition under the Bangladesh Bank-Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) joint learning program. At the event, Deputy Governor Habibur Rahman said that financial inclusion activities work as a strength of the economy. By reaching out to the marginalized, banks encourage people to save, create awareness about banking services, and play a role in increasing people's income. These activities help to eliminate income inequality in society, he said. “We are happy to recognize 10 banks that are pioneers in financial inclusion activities. The activities of these banks have brightened the image of the country in the international arena,” he pointed out.

Mahmud Hasan Khan, the panel leader of ‘Forum’ and Managing Director of Rising Fashions, has won 31 out of 35 director posts in the BGMEA election for the 2025–27 tenure. In the Dhaka region, Mahmud Hasan Khan secured the highest number of votes, receiving 1,149. This marks the Forum’s most significant victory in over a decade in the BGMEA elections. Forum candidates won 25 of the 26 posts in the Dhaka region. The elected directors are Mahmud Hasan Khan, Shah Raed Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman, MA Rahim, Faisal Samad, Mohammad Abdus Salam, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Md Shihab Uddoza Chowdhury, Inamul Haque Khan, Md Hasib Uddin, Mohammad Sohel, Sheikh HM Mostafiz, Vidya Amrit Khan, Joaddar Mohammad Hosne Qamar Alam, ABM Shamsuddin, Nafis-ud-Daula, Sumaiya Islam, Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Majumder Arifur Rahman, Fahima Akhter, Asef Kamal Pasha, Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, Rumana Rashid, Samiha Azim and Rezwan Selim. Faruque Hassan of Sammilita Parishad won the remaining post in Dhaka. BGMEA election underway; Forum and Sammilito Parishad leaders hopeful of victory In the Chittagong region, Forum candidates secured 6 out of 9 posts. The winners are Selim Rahman, M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Sakif Ahmed Salam, Md Sharif Ullah, Mohammad Rafiq Chowdhury and Enamul Aziz Chowdhury. The remaining three posts in Chittagong were won by Syed Mohammad Tanvir, SM Taib and Rakibul Alam Chowdhury of the Sammilita Parishad. Three electoral alliances -- the Forum, Sammilita Parishad, and Oikya Parishad -- contested the election for the 35 director posts of the organisation. While the Forum and Sammilita Parishad fielded candidates for all posts in both Dhaka and Chittagong, the Oikya Parishad nominated only six candidates. In total, 76 candidates contested the election. Md Abul Kalam, Managing Director of Chaiti Group, led the Sammilita Parishad, while Mohammad Mohsin, Chairman of Rumo Fashion, led the Oikya Parishad. Mohammad Iqbal served as chairman of the election board, with Syed Afzal Hossain and Ashraf Ahmed as members.

TECNO marked a major milestone in its journey recently with the grand opening of its largest flagship store in South Asia, located at Centrepoint, Uttara. To commemorate the opening, TECNO announced exclusive in-store offers available from May 30 to June 4. Designed as a hub for immersive technology experiences, the new store launch also served as a high-energy celebration of the recently introduced CAMON 40 Series, reinforcing TECNO’s commitment to delivering intelligent innovations to the region. The 2,600 square foot store represents a new era for TECNO in Bangladesh, where customers can experience the brand’s AI-driven product ecosystem in a fully interactive environment. Visitors explored hands-on demo zones featuring TECNO’s latest AIoT innovations, including the MEGA Mini Gaming G1, Pocket Go TWS, AI Smart Glasses, Dynamic 1 Smartwatch, and a wide range of tablets and smart devices that together define the future of connected living. Themed ‘The Era of TECNO AI’, the launch event brought together a dynamic mix of technology enthusiasts, industry stakeholders, and familiar public figures. The celebration featured captivating live performances from Minar Ahmed, Xefer, Habib Wahid, and Masha, alongside a striking AI Lifestyle Fashion Show curated by Azra Mahmood. Popular content creators from across the country were also present, capturing the experience and amplifying the excitement across digital platforms. A key highlight of the evening was the flash launch celebration of the CAMON 40 Series, including the CAMON 40 Pro. Guests experienced the smartphone’s standout features, such as the 50MP Sony LYT-700C Ultra Night Camera, the intuitive One-Tap FlashSnap photography mode, and its dust and water resistance with IP68 and IP69 ratings. The CAMON 40 Series has already set a new benchmark for mobile photography, and the event allowed fans and tech enthusiasts to explore its capabilities in real time. Speaking at the event,bRezwanul Hoque, CEO of Ismartu Technology BD Ltd., stated, “This flagship store is more than a retail destination. It is a space where people can engage with innovation in meaningful ways and see how TECNO’s AI-powered products are shaping the future of everyday life.” Customers visiting during this period can enjoy significant discounts on laptops and smart gadgets, receive complimentary data bundles, and take-home branded gifts such as screen protectors and water bottles. With the launch of its largest flagship in South Asia, TECNO is reaffirming its leadership in AI integrated consumer technology and strengthening its presence in Bangladesh’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. The Centrepoint store stands as a bold step toward making advanced technology more engaging, accessible, and relevant to modern lifestyles. The TECNO Flagship Store at Centrepoint, Uttara is now open daily. Visitors can now experience the future of smart living of TECNO first-hand in this store.

Bangladesh Bank has directed all scheduled banks in the country to keep sufficient money in their ATM booths to make financial transactions smoothly during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha holiday. In addition, several instructions have been given for uninterrupted transactions through Point of Sale (POS), e-payment gateway, and Mobile Financial Service (MFS). The Payment Systems Department of Bangladesh Bank sent instructions in this regard on Thursday (May 29). It said that banks should make necessary preparations in advance so that customers do not suffer any kind of hardship during the Eid holiday. In the circular sent to the top executives of scheduled banks, adding that in the case of automated teller machine (ATM) booths, round-the-clock ATM service should be ensured; if any technical fault occurs in the ATM booth, it should be resolved as soon as possible; sufficient money supply should be ensured; Other security measures, including round-the-clock security guards at the booth, should be ensured. Banks to remain open in Eid-ul-Azha in cattle market areas, transactions to continue until 10 pm In the case of Point of Sale (POS), round-the-clock POS services should be ensured and merchants and customers should be made aware to prevent fraud, said BB instructions. In the case of e-payment gateways, two-factor authentication (2FA) should be enabled for card-based 'card non-human touch' transactions. All banks and their subsidiary companies providing mobile financial services (MFS) should ensure uninterrupted transactions. In addition, information about transactions of any amount during the Eid holidays should be informed to the customer through SMS alert service. The central bank asked to run a campaign to alert customers about all types of payment services in electronic mode. The customer should be provided with round-the-clock helpline support and the instructions of the circular issued earlier in this regard should be properly followed.

Ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha, Bangladesh Bank has ordered bank branches to remain open in the areas adjacent to the cattle market for sacrificial animals in Dhaka and Chittagong. At the same time, evening banking activities have been asked to be conducted in these branches. Bangladesh Bank has given this instruction to facilitate banking transactions for sacrificial animal traders. On Thursday (May 29), the 'Banking Regulations and Policies Department' of Bangladesh Bank issued a circular in this regard and sent it to the managing directors and chief executives of commercial banks to implement. The central bank said that there is a large amount of cash transactions in the animal markets before Eid. Therefore, bank branches and sub-branches around the markets should be kept open from 10 am to 10 pm every day from June 3 until the day before Eid. This will allow buyers and sellers to conduct financial transactions safely. In addition, orders have been given to set up temporary bank booths in the markets. These booths will provide facilities for depositing and withdrawing cash as well as opening new accounts. Bank branches located near cattle markets operated under Dhaka North and South City Corporations and Chittagong City Corporation have been asked to take necessary measures to implement this directive. Bangladesh Bank said that this initiative will ensure transparency and security in cash management at cattle markets. This will allow customers to transact in a smooth and risk-free atmosphere. The areas where instructions have been given to start evening banking include Uttara, Diabari, Bhatara Sutivhola, Khilkhet Mastul, Mohammadpur Bachila, Gabtoli cattle market, Mirpur-6, Banarupa residential area, field adjacent to Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, Khilgaon Railgate, Postgola, Dholaikhal, Rahmatganj, Shyampur Kadamtoli, Kamalapur, Amulia, and Sagarika areas of Chittagong.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has withdrawn its decision to keep jewellery shops across the country closed for an indefinite period, a day after announcing the programme protesting the arrest of its vice-president Md Riponul Hasan. In a press release on Thursday, BAJUS said members of the Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Riponul Hasan from his business establishment at Tantibazar in the capital on 28 May in a false and fabricated case using a fake political identity. “The political identity mentioned in the case by police is completely false. Riponul Hasan never held that position. He is not involved with any political organisation, nor has he ever been a member of any political party,” the statement said. BAJUS said the arrest of Ripon has shocked and angered jewellery traders across the country. In protest, all jewellery shops remained closed today as owners and workers staged rallies, processions and human chains demanding justice and his unconditional release. All jewellery stores across Bangladesh to shut down indefinitely from Thursday The association has drawn the attention of the chief adviser, home adviser, law adviser, finance adviser, commerce adviser, industry adviser, IGP and DMP commissioner to ensure justice in the incident. Considering the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha and hoping for a fair investigation and justice, BAJUS has decided to suspend the programme of indefinite closure of jewellery shops. It requested all jewellery establishments to remain open from Friday. However, BAJUS warned that if Riponul Hasan’s name is not withdrawn from the “false and harassing” case and justice is not ensured, it will be compelled to announce fresh protest programmes. Jewellery shops see Eid sales decline amid soaring gold prices

All jewellery shops across Bangladesh will remain closed for an indefinite period starting Thursday morning in protest against the arrest of Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) Vice-President Riponul Hasan, the association announced on Wednesday.  In a press release, BAJUS stated that Riponul Hasan was arrested by police in a "false and harassing" case.  The organisation has demanded his unconditional release and strongly condemned the arrest. "As a protest and to press for his immediate and unconditional release, all jewellery establishments across the country, including in Dhaka, will remain closed indefinitely," the statement said. Gold price increased by Tk 1364 per bhori from Sunday Association's Acting President Gulzar Ahmed and General Secretary Badal Chandra Roy, along with other central leaders, expressed grave concern over the incident and issued a strong condemnation. Riponul Hasan was detained by police around 7:30pm on Wednesday from his business premises in Tantibazar, the capital’s key jewellery hub. BAJUS called upon authorities to withdraw what they described as a "fabricated and harassing" case and to ensure the immediate release of their leader.

After a brief positive start, both Dhaka and Chattogram stock markets saw a sharp decline in the first two hours of trading on Tuesday, with all major indices falling. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the key index DSEX lost 28 points. The Shariah-based DSES index slipped 5 points while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped 9 points. Of the issues traded, prices advanced for 88 companies, declined for 229 and remained unchanged for 75. Turnover on the DSE crossed Tk 100 crore during the two-hour window. Market swings amid volatile trading at DSE and CSE Over at the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE), the overall index fell by 67 points. Out of 126 companies traded on the CSE, prices rose for 30, declined for 75 and remained unchanged for 21. The turnover in Chattogram crossed Tk 4 crore halfway through the trading session.

Both the Dhaka and Chattogram stock exchanges saw a decline across all indices for the fourth consecutive trading day on Tuesday,  with the majority of listed companies witnessing a fall in share prices and reduced turnover. On the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX fell by 41 points. The Shariah-based DSES index declined by 8 points, while the blue-chip DS30 index dropped by 17 points. Out of the 392 companies that traded on the DSE, share prices increased for 83, while 237 saw a decline. The prices of 72 companies remained unchanged. Share prices dropped across all three categories – A, B, and Z. In the A category, which includes companies with a strong dividend record, 125 out of 213 companies saw a decrease in share prices. In contrast, only 49 companies posted gains, while 39 remained unchanged. In the DSE block market, shares worth Tk 17 crore were traded across 33 companies. Fine Foods accounted for the highest block transaction, selling shares worth Tk 5 crore. Overall, the DSE recorded a total turnover of Tk 272 crore, down from Tk 282 crore in the previous session. Market swings amid volatile trading at DSE and CSE The Investment Corporation of Bangladesh (ICB) topped the gainers’ list with a 9.83% increase in share price, while NCC Bank suffered the highest loss, declining by 9.65%. Chattogram Also in Decline Similar to Dhaka, the Chattogram Stock Exchange (CSE) also continued its downward trend, with the overall index shedding 49 points. Of the 207 companies that traded on the CSE, 61 posted gains, while share prices dropped for 115. Prices of 31 companies remained unchanged. Total turnover at the CSE stood at Tk 10 crore, slightly lower than the previous day’s turnover of Tk 11 crore. Global Islami Bank led the gainers with a 10% rise, while Bank Asia topped the losers’ list, with its share price falling by more than 17%.