United News of Bangladesh

The Meet Bangladesh Sourcing Show (MBS) hosted leading Bangladeshi plastic companies, including Real Fibre, Glass Industries, Duranta Cycles, Jim & Jolly, Rafid Toys Industries, and Zihan Toys, at the premier international plastic toys exhibition, the Istanbul Toy Fair 2025, in Türkiye. The event took place from February 25-28, where Bangladesh and its leading plastic companies were represented at a pavilion titled "Meet Bangladesh" to promote the plastic and plastic toy industry of Bangladesh.  

Bank transaction hours have been adjusted for the month of Ramadan like the previous years. According to Bangladesh Bank’s last week’s directive, transactions will take place from 9:30 am  to 2:30 pm during Ramadan while banks will remain open until 4 PM for post-transaction activities. The directive also states that there will be a break for Zuhr prayers from 1:15 pm to 1:30 pm. After Ramadan, banks will revert to their previous schedule. Prior to the holy month, banks operated from 10 am to 6 pm with transactions available until 4 pm. As in previous years, the central bank has also adjusted its office hours in line with financial institutions, setting them from 9:30 am to 4 pm. During this period, banks must complete their official work with the central bank within the revised hours, said the central bank.

For the first time since independence, a cargo vessel from Pakistan carrying rice is set to reach Monga seaport this week. The Pakistan fagged-carrier vessel-loaded with 25 metric tonnes (MT) of rice left Karachi Qasim port a few days back and is expected to anchor at Chittagong port within two or three days. Two ships carrying rice from India and Myanmar reach Ctg port After unloading 60 percent of rice there, the vessel with the remaining quantity of rice will move towards Mongla, said sources. A Government to Government (G2G) deal between Bangladesh and Pakistan was inked at the beginning of the last month to import 50 MT of Basmati rice through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). As per the deal, first consignment of the rice is on its way to Bangladesh and the second consignment is expected to come at the end of the current month. Ships carrying rice from Myanmar and India reach Ctg, Mongla port Indrajit Sarker, deputy controller at Khulna office of controller of movement and preservation, said 40 percent of the 25 MT of rice will be unloaded at the Mongla port. Khulna District Assistant Food Controller (additional charge) Tayebur Rahman said there are 47,000 MT of rice in the central food warehouse of Boyra and Maheshwarpasha. The capacity of the two warehouses is one lakh metric tonnes, he said.

Prices of essential commodities, particularly those used for iftar, have increased in Khulna’s markets with the onset of Ramadan, with some items seeing a two-to threefold hike. Locals said prices of eggplant, cucumber, and lemon—highly sought after for iftar— have been doubled despite adequate supply in the markets. Visiting KCC Sandhya Bazaar on Saturday the UNB correspondent found eggplant is currently selling for Tk 60-80 per kg, up from Tk 25-30 just a week ago. Cucumbers which were Tk 30 per kg last week are now being sold at Tk 60-80. Four lemons which were selling at Tk 20-30 few days ago are now selling for more than double that price. A similar trend was observed in other city markets, including Mistripara Bazaar, Rupsha Bazaar, and Moylapota Sandhya Bazar. Date prices drop by Tk100 to Tk400 per kg amid huge import Broiler chicken is selling for Tk 200-210 per kg while Sonali chicken is priced at Tk 320-340 per kg and layer chicken is being sold for up to Tk 320 per kg. When asked about the price hike, a poultry seller at KCC Sandhya Bazaar said, "Farm supply has decreased slightly, which is why prices are higher. However, chicken prices will remain within people’s purchasing capacity during Ramadan." A vegetable vendor at "Mayer Doa Vegetable Shop" in KCC Sandhya Bazar said that wholesale prices have doubled in just two days, despite stable supply. "Wholesalers have increased prices due to high demand, leaving us vendors to face complaints from consumers," he said. Taslima, a shopper at the market, expressed frustration over the rising costs. "I had hoped prices would remain stable this Ramadan, but as demand increases, so do the prices," she said. She said beef, which was selling for Tk 700 per kg, has now been hiked by another Tk 50 instead of decreasing. Khulna consumers face price hikes of some essential commodities A team led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nurul Hai Mohammad Anas, along with Executive Magistrate Muntasir Mamun, is inspecting markets to curb price manipulation.

The private sector United Commercial Bank (UCB) has gradually improved from its troubled situation. The UCB achieved a savings growth of over Tk 1,332 crore in February, which shows customers' renewed trust in the bank. Mohammed Mamdudur Rashid, Managing Director and CEO of UCB, said, "Even in the current challenging environment, this achievement of UCB is the result of the trust and support of our customers, shareholders, and employees. We always prioritize the needs and trust of our customers.” This success brings a positive message for the entire banking sector. The UNB works with honesty, transparency, and innovative thinking that helps overcome crisis, he opined. UCB's success is not only reflected in financial indicators but also demonstrates the deep trust of customers in the institution as it moves forward on the path of sustainable growth. Amid the ongoing crisis in the banking sector, UCB has maintained its service quality and financial strength, said a press release.

Consumers have expressed satisfaction over the declining prices of dates, following an import volume that has doubled compared to market demand ahead of Ramadan. On Saturday, the lowest price for dates in Dhaka was Tk250 per kg, while mid-range varieties were selling for Tk600 to Tk900 per kg. Premium-quality dates were priced at Tk1,600 per kg. Traders attributed the price drop—ranging from Tk100 to Tk400 per kg compared to last year—to reduced import duties. They said that demand for dates typically rises during Ramadan. Top 10 Date Varieties: Nutrition, Health Benefits, and Prices in Bangladesh At the start of this year, the import duty on dates was lowered from 25% to 15%, while the customs valuation was reduced by 8% to 25%. As a result, imports have doubled this year compared to the previous year. According to customs data, approximately 53,768 tonnes of dates were imported between July 1 and February 22 of the current fiscal year (FY 2024-25). During the same period last year (FY 2023-24), imports stood at 25,085 tonnes, while FY 2022-23 saw a significantly higher import volume of 81,684 tonnes. Ehsan Ullah Zahedi, proprietor of Al-Madina Traders in Chattogram’s Khatunganj, told UNB over the phone that the date business thrives during Ramadan but sees little demand for the rest of the year. Md Mohiuddin, General Secretary of the Chaktai-Khatunganj Aratdar General Traders Welfare Association, said the price of dates remains within buyers' affordability. “This year, imports have been substantial. Imported fruit prices surge by up to Tk 100 per kg ahead of Ramadan Besides, unsold stock from last year remains with many traders, contributing to the declining price trend,” he added. A wide variety of dates are imported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Dubai, including Zahidi, Sayedi, Faridi, Safai, Rashidi, Mashrukh, Mabrur, Nagal, Kudri, Ajwa, Medjool, Maryam, Dabbas and Sukkari. At the Badamtoli fruit market, a five-kg pack of Nagal dates is being sold for Tk1,400 to Tk1,500, while Tunisian Tetco Faridi dates cost Tk2,100 to Tk2,200 per five-kg pack. Meat, eggs and milk to be sold at affordable prices at 25 spots In addition: 5 kg of Mashrukh dates from Saudi Arabia: Tk2,100 to Tk2,2005 kg of Mashrukh-B brand: Tk2,5005 kg of Mashrukh VIP: Tk2,7005 kg of Iranian Maryam dates: Tk4,000 to Tk5,0005 kg of Saudi Mabrur dates: Tk4,500 to Tk5,0005 kg of Saudi Ajwa dates: Tk4,000 to Tk4,5005 kg of Egyptian Medjool dates: Tk3,800 to Tk4,00010 kg of Iraqi Zahidi dates: Tk1,600 to Tk1,700Loose sack dates per kg: Tk130 to Tk135  

Banks and non-bank financial institutions will maintain new office time during the holy month of Ramadan. Bangladesh Bank has announced a new schedule for inter-bank cheque settlement for clearing house transactions during this time. On Wednesday, the Payment Systems Department (PSD) of Bangladesh Bank issued a notification in this regard. According to this, the operating schedule of the three transaction platforms established at Bangladesh Bank—Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), Automated Cheque Clearance House (BACH), and Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN)—has been changed. DSE announces new trading hours for Ramadan Through these services, money is paid and automatic cheque settlement is done from one branch to another or a customer of another bank. High-value cheques (more than Tk 5 lakh) and regular-value cheques (less than Tk 5 lakh) are settled through BACH. “High-value cheques should be sent by 11:30 am for clearing during the month of Ramadan. These will be settled by 1:30 pm. Any regular value cheques will have to be sent to the clearing house by 12:30 pm. These cheques will be settled by 3:00 pm,” according to the notification. RTGS transactions will be from 9:30 am to 3:45 pm. However, customers will have to make transactions from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, customs duty e-payments until 3:30 pm and interbank fund transfer and return transactions can be paid through RTGS until 3:45 pm. Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan In addition, the instructions stated that the BEFTN service would continue as before. After the month of Ramadan, the transaction schedule of BACH and RTGS will continue as during regular time.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) witnessed record-high trading activity on the third trading day (Tuesday) of the week. For the first time this year, transactions surpassed Tk 600 crore, marking the highest level in the past three and a half months. On Sunday, shares and units worth Tk 602 crore were traded on the DSE. The last time transactions exceeded this figure was on 6 November 2024, when the exchange recorded Tk 650 crore in trades. Alongside the surge in trading volume, all major DSE indices showed upward movement. The benchmark index, DSEX, climbed by 32 points, while the Shariah-based DSES increased by 6 points and the blue-chip index DS30 gained 3 points. Vibrant Stock Market: Over Tk 300 crore traded in two hours Out of 396 participating companies, the share prices of 196 rose, 156 declined and 44 remained unchanged. In the 'A' category, most companies saw an increase in their share prices. But in the 'B' category, 79 companies traded, with 30 witnessing price gains, 43 experiencing declines, and 6 remaining unchanged. Similarly, in the 'Z' category, out of 99 companies, 43 recorded price hikes, 42 faced losses and 14 remained stable. Among the 37 mutual funds traded, 13 saw price increases, 10 experienced declines and 14 remained unchanged. Stock market rises, turnover surpasses Tk 500 crore again In the block market, 91 lakh shares from 32 companies were sold for Tk 16.5 crore. Al-Arafah Islami Bank dominated this segment, selling 17 lakh shares for Tk 3.14 crore—the highest in this category. Bashundhara Paper Mills Limited topped the gainers' list with a 9.90% price increase, while Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited suffered the steepest decline, losing 8.16%. CSE Also Witnesses Uptrend Similar to the DSE, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also experienced an upward trend, with its overall index rising by 135 points. Of the 236 companies traded, 129 saw price increases, 82 recorded losses, and 25 remained unchanged. The CSE recorded a total trading volume of Tk 13 crore, a decline from the previous day's Tk 31 crore. Aramit Cement Limited led the gainers on the CSE with a 10% price increase, while Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited also faced the sharpest decline here, dropping by 9.72%, similar to its performance in the DSE.  

The bullish trend in the Dhaka stock market continues for the third consecutive day, with indices rising and trading volume surging. In the first two hours of trading on Tuesday, the turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) surpassed Tk 300 crore as investors actively traded shares and units. The DSE's benchmark index, DSEX, gained 47 points, while the other two indices—DSES and DS30, which track the Shariah-compliant stocks and blue-chip companies, respectively—each increased by 10 points. Most of the listed companies witnessed a price increase, with 230 companies registering gains. In contrast, 109 companies saw a decline in their stock prices, while 53 remained unchanged. Similar to Dhaka, the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also experienced a lively session, although its overall index declined by 102 points in the first two hours of trading. Weekly Review: DSE plunges as investor confidence wanes; key sectors hit hard Out of the 157 companies that participated in trading on the CSE, 87 recorded price gains, 51 saw declines, and 19 remained unchanged. The total turnover in the CSE during this period stood at Tk 8.8 crore. Market analysts attribute the ongoing bullish trend to increased investor confidence, buoyed by positive economic indicators and policy support from regulators. They anticipate that the market will maintain its upward momentum if the current investor sentiment persists.

The proposed targets of the draft Renewable Energy (RE) Policy 2025 will fail to ensure the country’s energy security, according to experts. Instead, the policy is expected to increase reliance on fossil fuels, enable higher corporate profits, and impose greater financial burdens on citizens. Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), a non-governmental organization, raised these concerns during a press conference held at a hotel in the capital on Sunday. Consultants from the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) prepared the draft policy via a consulting firm before submitting it to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources. Hasan Mehedi, Chief Executive of CLEAN, said, “Bangladesh faces a persistent lack of coordination in formulating renewable energy policies, leading to stagnation in the sector and heightened dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels.” He highlighted that the government took over four years to draft the policy, reflecting the absence of a comprehensive energy and power master plan. “This lack of a long-term roadmap complicates decision-making. Moreover, allowing merely 21 days for civil society and expert feedback on the draft policy is an insufficient timeframe,” he added. Mehedi noted that the draft policy sets unrealistically low renewable energy targets—6,145 MW (20%) by 2030 and 17,470 MW (30%) by 2041—without a clear decarbonization strategy. It also omits a green taxonomy, a feature integrated into frameworks of many nations. Additionally, the policy lacks inter-ministerial coordination plans, implementation strategies, and financing roadmaps for renewable energy. He criticized the disparity in incentives: “While companies implementing renewable energy projects receive full tax exemptions for 10 years and partial exemptions for five years, ordinary citizens are granted no tax benefits. Other nations offer up to 30% subsidies for rooftop solar installations, but this draft ignores such provisions.” Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), remarked, “The government’s hurried approach has resulted in an incomplete and superficial policy. Expanding renewables within a fossil fuel-dominated economy is impractical.” He also emphasized the policy’s failure to address the critical need for foreign direct investment (FDI). Bareesh Hasan Chowdhury, Coordinator of Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific, said, “While most countries have adopted net-zero targets, Bangladesh has yet to establish such a goal.” Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Director of the Center for Energy Research, observed, “Bangladesh lags behind nations like China, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam in renewable progress. The sector remains neglected as the country continues to prioritize fossil fuel interests.”