United News of Bangladesh

The Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2025 has become a vibrant weekend attraction for families, drawing large crowds to the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BCFEC) in Purbachal despite its distance from central Dhaka. Eighteen days into the month-long event, the fair became a bustling hub on Friday and Saturday, with visitors eager to shop, explore, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Sarah, a resident of Shyamoli, said, “I came with my husband and children, and it’s been a great experience. Although the venue is far, the well-maintained roads made our journey smooth.” Moinul Hasan from Goran, visiting for the first time since the venue moved to Purbachal, said, “It’s not as convenient for Dhaka residents as the Agargaon location was. I used to visit frequently before, but now it’s harder to come.” Najat and Nihan, enjoying the outing with their parents, said, “We’re having so much fun! We had ice cream, and we’re buying toys. We want to come again.” As the day progresses, crowds continue to grow, especially around toy shops, food stalls, and grocery outlets. However, some sellers expressed concern about sales performance. They said many visitors are here to look around rather than shop.

The Dhaka stock market ended the week with a decline in the index for all five trading days. On Thursday, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the DSEX, fell by 8 points, closing at 5,133 points. The blue-chip DS-30 index decreased by 4 points, while the Shariah-based DSES index dropped by 6 points. Compared to the previous day, trading volume was reduced by Tk 43 crore. A total of 1,29,000 shares, worth Tk 363 crore, changed hands through 14.83 million transactions. Along with the index decline, the share prices of most companies also fell. But 141 companies saw price increases, while 196 experienced price drops, and the share prices of 62 companies remained unchanged. Among the companies in DSE's A-category, out of 220, 88 saw price increases, 96 saw price declines, and 36 remained unchanged. In the B-category, 88 companies recorded price increases for 24 companies, while 53 saw price drops, and 11 stayed constant. In the Z-category, 86 companies had 26 with rising prices, 46 with falling prices, and 14 that remained unchanged. Most mutual funds also saw a drop in their share prices. Out of 37 mutual funds, 7 experienced price increases, 12 had decreases, and 18 remained the same. On Thursday, the DSE moved C & A Textile Company from the B-category to the Z-category. A directive was issued to brokerage houses and merchant banks to refrain from providing any loans for purchasing shares of this company. In another development, IFAD Autos PLC paid its dividend to investors for the July quarter of last year. This marked the lowest dividend payout by IFAD in the last decade, offering just 1% per share. The downward trend continued in the Chittagong stock market as well. The Chittagong Stock Exchange's (CSE) CSE-50 index fell by 3.43 points, and the CSE-30 index dropped by 55.31 points, ending at 1,096.35 and 11,759.50 points, respectively. Besides, the CSI index dropped by 5.14 points, closing at 934.59 points. Alongside the decline, trading volume also decreased on the CSE. Continuous decline in stock indices for four days Compared to the previous day, turnover dropped by Tk 4.68 crore as the total turnover for the day was Tk 4.72 crore, down from Tk 9.40 crore in the previous trading session. Out of the 178 companies and mutual funds listed on the CSE, 57 experienced price increases, 96 saw declines, and 25 remained unchanged. Stock market sees early gains on week's final trading day

Bangladesh Bank is considering raising the policy interest rate again as the nation grapples with persistently high inflation and increasing living costs. “The central bank typically increases the repo rate—considered the policy interest rate—to curb high inflation. An announcement may be made in the upcoming monetary policy for the January-June period of the current fiscal year,” said a Bangladesh Bank assistant director, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that the repo rate, or the rate at which commercial banks borrow from the central bank by pledging treasury bills, is likely to be raised from 10 percent to 10.50 percent. This potential hike has sparked concerns among business leaders. Executive President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Mohammad Hatem, warned that higher interest rates will increase borrowing costs at the consumer level, further driving up the cost of business and commerce. Hatem also criticized the timing of the decision, pointing out that the government recently raised VAT and other taxes on over 100 goods and services, compounding the challenges posed by high inflation. Despite the possible increase in the policy interest rate, the interest rate on loans for government officials and bankers is expected to remain fixed at 4 percent, a point that has drawn criticism from stakeholders who claim it creates inequality in the credit market. Economic analysts have noted that the persistent dollar crisis and Bangladesh Bank's contractionary monetary policy have significantly hampered private sector investment. Private sector credit growth slowed to 7.66 percent in November, one of the lowest rates in recent years. Inflation remains a key concern, with average inflation hitting 10.34 percent in December. This marks over two and a half years of inflation hovering around 10 percent. The government has set a target of bringing inflation down to 7.50 percent by the end of this fiscal year. Analysts warn that recent increases in customs duties and taxes on over 100 products, along with the dearness allowance for government employees, could push inflation even higher in the coming months.

The Department of National Savings (DNS) has resumed its services, including the sale and redemption of savings certificates, following the completion of a server upgrade. The upgrade work caused a suspension of all savings certificate transactions for about six days. DNS officials confirmed that the server became fully operational on Wednesday, allowing normal services to resume from Thursday. Despite the restoration of services, customer turnout was notably low on Thursday at the Bangladesh Bank’s Motijheel office. Officials attributed this to a lack of public awareness about the server’s reactivation. Many customers who visited during the outage may not know that the system is now operational, said an official from the central bank. Read: Savings certificate sales suspended amid server upgrade; customers frustrated A source from DNS further explained that some customers returned today to submit the necessary forms and documents for purchasing savings certificates. However, since Thursday is the last working day of the week, a significant increase in customer visits is expected from Sunday. An official from DNS’s public relations department reassured customers that all systems are functioning smoothly.

The majority of companies witnessed a rise in share prices during the first hour of trading on the week’s final business day. Alongside the price increases, the benchmark indices also saw a positive movement. On Thursday, trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) began with 196 companies registering gains, while 78 saw declines, and 79 remained unchanged in price. The DSEX, DSE's benchmark index, increased by 7 points, and the Shariah-based DSES index rose by 1 point. However, the DS30 index, which tracks blue-chip stocks, dropped by 2 points. During the initial hour, a total of 3,32,089 shares changed hands through 3.85 lakh transactions, amounting to Tk 89 crore in turnover. In an additional development, the DSE downgraded C&A Textiles to the Z category from the B category at the start of the day. Read: DSE ends Sunday’s trading with a downtrend; prices of 282 companies go down Merchant banks and brokerage houses have been instructed not to provide loans for purchasing shares of this company. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also observed gains in its indices during the early hours. The CSCX index rose by 8 points, with 33 companies recording price increases, 29 experiencing declines, and 11 remaining stable. The early market trends indicate a mix of optimism and caution as investors navigate the trading landscape.

NOVOAIR, the leading private airline in the country, has made sky travel a reality for underprivileged children. NOVOAIR took 30 children from Jaago Foundation schools on a special "dream flight" to Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday, according to a media statement. In addition to the flight, the airline organised a beach cleaning program at Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach, with the students actively participating. These events were part of NOVOAIR's celebration of its 12th anniversary. The children flew from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar on a flight that left at 10:20 am and returned to Dhaka at 6:30 pm. During their visit to Cox’s Bazar, they explored the sea beach, the Bangladesh Air Force base, and the Cox’s Bazar Railway Station, creating lasting memories. Maymuna Rahman, a fifth-grade student, expressed her excitement, saying, "I never imagined I would visit the sea beach by plane and see the Bangladesh Air Force aircraft. I am truly grateful to NOVOAIR for making this dream come true." Another student, Hanif Mia, shared, "Flying through the clouds was an amazing experience! We played on the beach and saw the beautiful Cox’s Bazar Railway Station. This trip felt like a dream come true."

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) began the week with a downtrend as all three major indices registered losses in the first hour of trading. The benchmark DSEX index dropped by 6 points, while the DS30, representing blue-chip stocks, declined by 2 points. The Shariah-based DSES index also edged lower, losing 0.13 points. During the initial hour, the market turnover stood at approximately Tk 80 crore. Out of the traded shares, prices of 154 stocks decreased, 122 advanced, and 80 remained unchanged. Shares from the automobile, paper mills, fabrics, and engineering sectors performed well, maintaining a stronger position. But the banking sector showed limited activity, with only three banks making it to the top 20 performing stocks. In the broader picture, the DSE's benchmark index has lost 38 points over the past two days, bringing the DSEX to 5,155 points. Read: DSEx and DS30 indexes slide while DSES up by 4.16 points in 1st hour The downward trend extended to the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) as well. In the first hour of trading, the CSE's major index also showed a decline. Prices fell for 41 stocks, increased for 27, while the turnover amounted to Tk 47 crore in shares and bonds. This lacklustre performance at the start of the week indicates cautious investor sentiment as both bourses continue to face headwinds.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the country's main capital market, saw a decline in trading in the first hour on Sunday. The 3 indexes of the Dhaka stock market DSEX and DS30 decreased while Shariah index DSES increased in the morning. The main index DSEX decreased by 0.01 points to 5,194.42 points, the DSES Shariah index up by 4.16 points to 1166.10 points, and the DS30 special blue-chip index fell by 2.85 points to 1921.41 points during the first hour on Sunday. Read: DSEX gains 9.42 points; 400 companies participate in trading On the day, the trading record in the DSE shows that shares and units of 3.27 crore were exchanged through 31872 transactions. In the first hour, the market witnessed huge selling pressure, and shares and mutual funds worth Tk 101.9 crore were traded. During this time, a total of 372 companies participated in trading. Among these, prices of 142 companies increased, 146 companies decreased and 84 companies remained unchanged at the DSE.

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) President Taskeen Ahmed has urged the government to reduce expenses by 20% to save Tk50,000 crore and avoid burdening businesses with increased value added tax (VAT), supplementary duty (SD), and gas prices. Speaking at a press event in Dhaka’s Motijheel, he criticised the government’s decision to raise VAT and SD on over 100 products and services through two ordinances issued Thursday night. The hikes, effective immediately, have increased costs on essentials such as mobile usage, clothing, restaurant dining, LP gas, and more. Ahmed called the move "suicidal," warning it would harm national and international trade, raise inflation, and deter investments. He also expressed concern over the proposed gas price hike of 150%, noting industrial users would pay Tk 75.72 per cubic metre beyond their sanctioned load compared to the current flat Tk 30.75. Gas prices have already increased 200% in the last three years, and further hikes would severely impact businesses struggling with insufficient supply. Ahmed stressed the need to separate politics and the economy, urging businessmen in politics to avoid politicising business affairs. He highlighted Bangladesh's economic challenges, including limited foreign exchange reserves, rising energy costs, inflation, and high interest rates, compounded by global geopolitical instability. The DCCI plans to prioritise controlling inflation, stabilising foreign exchange rates, and reducing interest rates this year. Ahmed called for expedited low-cost financing for the CMSME sector, which is critical for employment generation. On LDC graduation, Ahmed acknowledged setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and local political unrest. He urged detailed stakeholder discussions to assess readiness and suggested deferring the timeline if necessary. He also emphasised increasing the tax-GDP ratio and expanding the taxpayer base while urging the government to cut unnecessary projects, adopt austerity measures, and improve monitoring of ADP implementation. DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman, and other board members attended the event.

The capital market was neglected, and even stakeholders failed to hold a single meeting for past 15 years to solve the problems and make policies for turning it sustainable as a source of investment, said Mominul Islam, chairman of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). He was speaking at a press conference on ‘Present Situation of Stock Market and Way Forward’ at Dhaka Club on Thursday. DSEX index down by 5.77 points, prices of 214 stocks drop  He said, “The capital market has contracted drastically, failing to play the role it was supposed to play in the financial sector. The irregularities and inefficiency we have nurtured for a long time have kept the capital market from being positive.” The DSE chairman said, “In the last 10 years, a weak IPO market worth Tk 650 crore has come. Good companies are coming in a very few. The number of investors in the market has come down by half in the last 10 years. There are even fewer active investors.” He highlighted that one of the units to measure the quality of the capital market is the amount of foreign investment. Currently, the amount of foreign investment has come down to below 1.0 percent. DSEX index gains 28.4 points as 294 stocks advance in early trading Although the amount of corporate bonds is shown to be one percent, in reality, it is not more than 0.51 percent. New IPOs, corporate bonds, and mutual funds are the new priority in the market, he pointed out. The capital market will hold the position of leading and coordinating skilled and trained manpower that will be needed to take the DSE forward. “We are recruiting manpower with full leadership qualities. We hope that the confidence in the market will be better than before, and investors will come back again. IT security audit is very important. We are revitalizing the DSE website, especially working to digitize the IPO. The bond market is also a management problem, we are working in coordination with the BSEC,” added the DSE chief. In response to a question, he said, "If the protection of DSE is legal, we will be able to work independently. We do not want CCBL to exist. BSEC, DSE, and CCBL will be respected and are working on this. We give importance to efficiency in recruiting manpower." Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Chairman AKM Habibur Rahman said, "The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) is not trying to impose anything on us. We are working cooperatively." DSE Brokers Association (DBA) Chairman Saiful Islam said that there was no good sign in a decade where professional people are involved in the development of the capital market. However, “Various positive steps have been taken as a result of pressure from various electronic and print media. It is playing a positive role in the market,” he pointed out. Regarding decentralisation, he said, instead of this everything is being made dependent on the finance ministry. Many things are being taken from the hands of the primary regulator and taken under the control of the ministry or the financial institution division (FID). As a result, the stakeholders are facing various problems, he said.