United News of Bangladesh

Economists, researchers and academics have emphasised curtailing non-performing loans to ensure good governance in the banking sector and make the country's economy vibrant. They also said that growing non-performing loans create challenges for banks and the economy of the country while global trate war is pushing the world towards chaos. They made the remarks in a session on the 2nd day of ‘10th Annual Banking Conference-2025, organised by Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) at its Mirpur office. Professor Dr. Barkat A Khoda was keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the second day. Several sessions including FinTech and Financial Sector, Islami Banking and Governance, Risk Management and Bank Performance were held on the 2nd day. The conference sessions cover contemporary issues and sustainability concerns on banking, finance and the economy both in the national and international context. Speaking at an event Dr. Shah Ahsan Habib, senior Professor of BIBM said that the global economic and financial landscape is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Bad loans in banking sector hits Tk6.75 lakh crore:  White Paper “We are witnessing a paradigm shift, a new wave of economic nationalism, protectionism, and currency uncertainty that is challenging for the foundation of the International Monetary Order,” he said. The economy in today’s context reminds us of a long-gone yet defining period in economic history: ‘Interwar Period’ or the period between the First and Second World War. That time was marked by suspended gold convertibility, monetary fragmentation, and the notorious “beggar-thy-neighbour” policies, he pointed out. “We know that Beggar-thy-neighbour policies were the economic strategies where a country tries to improve its own economy at the expense of others, often through tariffs or currency devaluation, so we have to prepare for any such previous situation,” he added. He said that the leading economies were engaged not with cooperation, but with tariffs, trade barriers, and exchange controls now. In conséquences, a great economic depression like 1930 could be repeated. So there is need to prepare for a bad situation. Md. Sabur Khan, chairman, Daffodil International University, Mohammad Abdul Mannan, chairman, First Security Islami Bank, Dr. Mahmood Osman Imam, Professor and dean, Business Studies, University of Dhaka chaired different sessions of the event on Thursday. Around 1000 officials of different banks, economists, academicians and panelists participated in the two days session of the conference. IMF voices concern over rising bad loans in banks The annunal conference has been thr hallmark of BIBM since 2012. The two- day event brings together experts, academicians and researchers from all over the world to exchange and share knowledge, experience and research outputs on banking and related issues.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin on Thursday said India's sudden cancellation of trans-shipment facilities will not cause any problem as the government will try to overcome the situation on its own. “These (trans-shipment) facilities have been cancelled abruptly. I held a meeting with all relevant stakeholders yesterday. We do not feel this will create any major issue. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that our own capacity and competitiveness are not hampered and that our exports continue without any logistical disruptions,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. Regarding the measures taken following the cancellation, the adviser said, “I won’t share those with you at this moment. We are working to address structural and cost-related challenges to enhance our competitiveness. I don’t see any reason for concern here.” Transshipment Facility: Four Bangladeshi trucks sent back from Benapole Port Asked whether Bangladesh plans to send a formal letter to India regarding the cancellation, the adviser said, “We are not considering that at the moment.” Responding to a question over the volume of exports that used India’s trans-shipment facilities, Bashir said, “Around 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of goods used to be exported through Indian ports, particularly Delhi and Kolkata. These were primarily destined for European countries. We hope to quickly resolve this issue by strengthening our own capacity, InshaAllah.” India stops transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo India on Tuesday abruptly cancelled the facility allowing Bangladeshi goods to be shipped to third countries using Indian territories under the trans-shipment arrangement.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H. Mansur said all Islamic banks will be merged into two entities. He said, ‘political interference in banks will be stopped so that no one can establish a reign of loot.’ He said this at the 10th Annual Banking Conference at BIBM at Mirpur on Wednesday. The governor said, ‘Both banks and non-bank financial institutions need reforms because of irregularities, scams and failure of good governance.’ Foreign investors express keen interest in Bangladesh: BIDA For this, after the political change on August 5 last year, Bangladesh Bank took the initiative to form a task force, introduce new laws and amend existing laws such as the Bank Companies Act, he pointed out. As a result, some of the looted banks have started to turn around, but several banks are in a state of collapse, said  Mansur. Noting that the condition of all banks is not bad, but the condition of those that are bad is very bad, he said. The governor said, "No one will be allowed to escape by looting bank money and political interference in banks will be stopped." He also said, "The central bank will intervene in the bank board in the interest of the customers and the board of another bank will be dissolved in the next few weeks.”

ShopUp, Bangladesh’s largest B2B commerce platform, and Sary, the leading B2B marketplace and services platform in the Gulf, have merged to form SILQ Group. This merger brings together Gulf & Emerging Asia, creating the largest B2B commerce platform to serve the fastest-growing consumer markets in the region, and across the globe. The merger is backed by a $110 million funding led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures. This funding includes an equity investment and financing facility for SILQ Financial, the group's financial services arm. Together, ShopUp and Sary have served over 600,000 retailers, hotels, restaurants, cafes and wholesalers, impacting tens of millions of customers in mom-and-pop shop communities since inception. To date, the combined network has made over $5 billion in transactions on their platforms and exceeded $750 million in embedded financing disbursements. Besides, the companies have facilitated a total of 100 million shipments. This will establish SILQ as the platform of choice that enables businesses to grow by increasing their efficiency through a combination of financial tools, logistic services, and commerce features. Post-merger, both ShopUp and Sary brands will continue to operate in their respective geographies under their respective brand names, while leveraging SILQ’s infrastructure and combined capabilities. Govt to create funds to boost startup sector: BIDA Chairman The group will also establish SILQ Financial as its financing arm. It will be creating financial infrastructure, doubling down on the embedded financing scale of both markets and the Point-of-Sales (POS) business. ShopUp’s Founder & CEO, Afeef Zaman, will serve as SILQ Group CEO, while Sary’s Founder & CEO, Mohammed Aldossary will lead SILQ Financial as CEO. “Through this merger, we’re entering what’s set to become one of the world’s largest trade corridors—projected to reach $682 billion. We’re in the front seat to serve some of the most exciting, fast-growing economies that are set to shape global consumption in the coming decades, giving them greater access to products from around the world,” said Afeef Zaman, CEO of SILQ Group. "By merging our strengths, we're not just expanding our reach - we're revolutionizing how digital commerce serves Gulf's merchants and South Asia manufacturers. This alliance brings together the best of both worlds: deep regional expertise and world-class technology to empower every business in our ecosystem where financial services are a cornerstone," said Mohammed Aldossary, CEO of SILQ Financial. "SILQ is poised to become a leading B2B commerce player both regionally and globally. It addresses numerous challenges faced by B2B businesses seeking a fully integrated platform that combines financial, logistics and commerce services. This merger will enhance SILQ’s depth, expertise and scale. We remain committed to supporting the company’s leadership to ensure this merger benefits all stakeholders,” said a spokesperson at Sanabil Investments. "Saudi Arabia and the Gulf represent one of the most exciting economic stories in the world today. This merger reflects a bold vision to place these markets at the center of a new commercial ecosystem connecting with South Asia. With a leadership team that has consistently demonstrated courage and foresight, SILQ has the potential to define this category through ambition that matches the regions it serves," said James Fitzgerald, Founding Partner at Valar Ventures. SILQ is backed by renowned investors, including Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures, Flourish Ventures, VSQ, MSA Capital, Rocketship VC, STV, Wafra Investment (owned by Kuwait PIFSS), Peak XV, Prosus, Tiger Global, Endeavor Catalyst, and Raed Ventures. Bangladesh bank to launch Tk 800–900cr fund for startups: Governor This round will also see participation from new investors like Qatar Government owned Qatar Development Bank. SILQ is set to establish a strong presence in Qatar to extend its offering to SMEs in Qatar.

The government is working to create startup funds from budget allocation to encourage youth in entrepreneurship. Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Ashik Chowdhury said this at a press briefing on Monday evening. He briefed reporters about the day's session of Bangladesh Startup Connect, an event being held at Hotel InterContinental as a flagship programme under the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 that opened on Monday. BIDA Chairman, CCECC President discuss potential 2nd Chinese economic zone in Mongla He said that Bangladesh Bank will release Tk800 crore from different banks’ startup funds. The central bank will also release another special fund of Tk500 crore to boost the startup sector. Besides, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd will arrange a fund of US$ $1.0 million for the startup sector of Bangladesh, which was announced on the first day of Bangladesh Startup Connect, said BIDA chairman. Doing business will be easier for investors in Bangladesh: BIDA chief He said the interim government has emphasised youth employment and entrepreneurs’ development. As part of this, the government is working with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the allocation funds under budgetary support to boost the startup economy. The BIDA chairman said that over 70 representatives of 25 countries arrived in Bangladesh on the occasion of the investment summit. Over 1500 startups participated in the event. Chief Adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam, and Shish Haider Chowdhury, ndc, Secretary, ICT Division and Chairman, Startup Bangladesh Limited were present at the press briefing.  

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) on Monday invited foreign investors to explore opportunities at the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), one of the country’s most ambitious development initiatives aimed at transforming its industrial landscape. The call came as a delegation of around 60 foreign investors visited the NSEZ to assess its potential. "We want to show the world that Bangladesh is a stable country with huge investment opportunities," one of the BEZA officials said welcoming the investors from South Korea, India, China, Japan, Australia and the Netherlands at the NSEZ. The visit is part of the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 that kicked off in Dhaka on Monday marking a milestone event aimed at reinforcing the country’s commitment to economic progress, investment-friendly policies, and sustainable growth. The NSEZ is strategically situated beside Bay of Bengal in south-eastern Bangladesh, with transportation routes such as Dhaka-Chattogram national highway Chattogram port and airport. "For the first time, foreign investors have been brought to see the facilities in person. They have seen the opportunities in their own eyes and they are very impressed," Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Govt decides to transfer 9, 467-acres land in Sonadia from BEZA to Forest Dept Attracting both domestic and foreign investment in chemical, basic steel, garments, leather products, pharmaceuticals, electronics, automobiles and agro-processing industries and promoting export-oriented and import substitute industries to support local value chains. This industrial city will also accommodate residential area, financial hub, city centre, educational institutions, tourism facilities and other amenities. To ensure sustainable industrialization, this city will comprise renewable energy solutions, environmental and social compliance management, green zones, dedicated service areas for effluent treatment and waste management. The industrial enclave is expected to boost export earnings, contribute significantly to GDP growth and serve as a model for economic zones across Bangladesh. The NSEZ has attracted approximately $19 billion worth local and foreign investment proposals. As of today, the total number of investors is about 155, predicted to establish 500 industries in the future, BEZA officials said. Dutch-Bangla Chamber signs MoU with BEZA

The government is working to create a more pro-business environment for investors, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Ashik Chowdhury said on Monday. “We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to potentially transform many aspects of our business ecosystem,” he said while speaking at a session titled ‘Bangladesh Startup Connect’, part of the four-day investment summit being held at the Intercontinental Hotel in the capital. Ashik emphasized the continued importance of BIDA’s role as an investment promotion agency. “It is up to the government to figure out how to build a bridge between the assets we have within the country and the global liquidity that is available,” he added. Shift towards renewable energy both urgent necessity and strategic investment opportunity: BIDA Citing an example, he pointed to the challenge of obtaining a trade license -a seemingly simple issue that poses significant barriers for startups in Bangladesh. “We need to ensure that we are building an ecosystem where it is much easier for businesses to operate,” the BIDA chief said.

Bangladesh exported goods worth  $4.25 billion, marking a year-on-year growth of 11.44 percent compared to $3.81 billion in March, 2024. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) during the first nine months of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 (July–March), Bangladesh’s export sector demonstrated a commendable performance, achieving a total export earnings of US$ 37.19 billion. The export growth reflects a 10.63 percent growth compared to $33.61 billion recorded during the same period of the previous fiscal year. The Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, traditionally the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s export basket, retained its leading position. RMG exports during July–March FY 2024-25 reached $ 30.25 billion, reflecting a 10.84 percent growth over the corresponding period last year. For the month of March alone, RMG exports witnessed a 12.40 percent year-on-year growth, rising to $3.45 billion from $3.07 billion. Beyond RMG, several other sectors also contributed significantly to the overall export growth. Bangladesh saw export growth by 15.63% in Nov The table below presents a comparative performance matrix of key sectors: Value in USD Million SectorExport Earnings (Jul–Mar FY 2023-24)Export Earnings (Jul–Mar FY 2024-25)Growth (%) Jul–MarYoY Growth in March (%)Total ExportsUSD 33,617.41USD 37,191.3210.63%11.44RMG (Total)27,288.7330,246.3410.84%12.40Knitwear14517.4616146.7211.2212.93Woven12,771.2714099.6210.4011.82Leather & Leather Goods775.36852.019.8922.64Jute & Jute Goods678.37626.29-7.680.28Light Engineering Products362.96402.4510.8833.32Home Textiles645.68677.604.943.30Specialized Textiles249.04298.3919.645.84Other Footwear (Excl. Ch. 64)309.12414.6834.1544.03Agricultural Products760.40807.066.14-25.72The RMG sector continues to anchor the export landscape, showing strong and consistent growth both cumulatively and on a monthly basis. EPB said in its observation . Leather and leather goods, as well as light engineering products, registered notable growth, signaling the diversification potential of Bangladesh's export base. Bangladesh expects to see export growth despite global trade shifts Home textiles, specialized textiles, and non-Chapter 64 footwear sectors showed moderate but positive growth. The jute sector remained largely stagnant, with minimal growth. Agricultural products, an emerging export segment, suffered a significant negative growth of 25.72%, necessitating targeted interventions to reverse the trend.

Stock Market Closing Stock Market sees fall in Dhaka, rise in Chittagong on first day after Eid Dhaka, April 6 (UNB) - The stock market reopened on Sunday after the extended Eid holidays with a mixed performance. The Dhaka market saw a decline, while Chittagong experienced a modest rise. From the beginning of the trading day on Sunday, the indices at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) began to fall. By the end of the session, the DSEX, the main index, dropped by 13 points. Among the other two indices, the Shariah-based DSES saw a decline, while the blue-chip DS-30 index rose by 14 points during the day’s trading. A total of 393 companies participated in the trading on the first day, with most stocks experiencing a decline in value. Out of these, the shares of 101 companies increased, while 262 companies saw a drop, and 30 companies' share prices remained unchanged. In terms of categories, most companies in categories A, B, and Z failed to benefit from the trading session. However, mutual funds performed well. Of the 36 mutual funds traded, 33 saw an increase in share prices, 2 experienced a decrease, and the share price of 1 remained unchanged. In the block market of Dhaka, shares worth 106.6 million taka of 18 companies were sold, with Bich Hatchery Limited leading with 44.8 million taka worth of shares sold. The total trading volume for the day at the DSE was 41.5 billion taka, up from 31.5 billion taka on 27 March, the last working day before the Eid holiday. Brokerage houses attributed the increase in trading volume to investors’ inclination to sell off shares as the index declined. Stock indices decline in Dhaka, Chittagong markets; trading volume rises Despite the rise in trading volume, they noted that this development did not signal a positive outlook for the market. Among the top-performing stocks of the day, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited saw a rise of 9.79%, with its share price increasing from 98 taka at the beginning of the day to 108.80 taka by the close of trading. On the other hand, Bich Hatchery Limited saw the steepest decline of the day, losing 9.27% in value. The company’s share price fell from 107 taka to 99.80 taka by the end of the trading session. Modest Rise in Chittagong The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) experienced a slight upward movement. The overall index of the CSE increased by 3 points during the day’s trading. Despite the index increase, most stocks on the CSE saw a decline in value. Of the 179 companies that participated in the trading, the share price of 70 companies rose, while 84 companies saw a decrease, and 25 companies’ prices remained unchanged. The total trading volume on the CSE for the day was 10.62 million taka, which was higher than the 7.13 million taka recorded on 27 March. Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited topped the performance charts in Chittagong as well, with a 10% increase in share price. On the other hand, Popular Life Insurance Company Limited experienced the steepest fall, with its shares losing 10% of their value. END/UNB/MM/SAM

The export-import activities through Hili land port in Dinajpur resumed on Sunday morning after eight days of holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Professor Shahinur Islam, general secretary of C&F Agent association of the land port, said trade activities remained suspended from March 29 to April 5. He said movement of travellers with valid documents through the port remained as usual during the period.   Trade with India through Hili land port to remain suspended for 8 days Shafiul Alam, revenue officer of the land port, said the goods-laden trucks from India started entering the port from 11am on Sunday.