<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
                        <id>http://www.presstoday.news/feed/trade-and-commerce</id>
                                <link href="http://www.presstoday.news/feed/trade-and-commerce"></link>
                                <title><![CDATA[The Press Today trade-and-commerce Feed]]></title>
                                <description>The Press Today Latest trade-and-commerce News Feeds</description>
                                <language>bn-BD</language>
                                <updated>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:35:13 +0000</updated>
                        <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[A section of employees has &#039;hijacked&#039; the port: Chairman]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/297" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/297</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Chairman Rear Admiral SM Moniruzzaman on Sunday alleged that a section of employees has &#39;hijacked&#39; the port, keeping the public hostage.
While speaking at a press briefing, he said that contract to be signed only after completion of legal process.

Claiming that the operations at the country&#39;s main port remain normal despite an ongoing strike by workers and employees, he warned that any attempt to obstruct operations would be dealt with through legal means.

&#39;&#39;The contract has not been finalised. Efforts are being made to frustrate the process. However, in the interest of the country, the agreement will be implemented only after the legal and procedural steps are completed.&#39;&#39;

SM Moniruzzaman said,&#39;&#39;We are servants of the state and our loyalty must be to the state. We must respect the law under which the port operates and the institution itself. If anyone chooses a different allegiance, that goes completely against the code of conduct for officials and employees.&#39;&#39;

The chairman also alleged that the action was aimed at creating public discontent ahead of the holy Ramadan.

The port sources said that there are currently 12 ships at the main jetty, while additional 80 ships are at the outer anchorage.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:35:13 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[DITF 2026 concluded today]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/286" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/286</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), the country&rsquo;s flagship trade event, concluded on Saturday after a month-long run, generating nearly Tk400 crore in sales and highlighting steady domestic demand despite inflationary pressures and a slowing economy, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

At the closing ceremony held at Bangladesh&ndash;China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Purbachal, Narayanganj, the EPB reported domestic transactions of Tk393 crore; up 3.42% compared to last year. Participating local and foreign companies also secured potential export orders worth $17.98 million (around Tk224.26 crore).

Products attracting export interest included jute and diversified jute items, electrical and electronics goods, home appliances, cosmetics, processed foods, handloom products, nakshi kantha, home textiles and household items.

Export orders came from Afghanistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey.

A total of 329 enterprises participated in the fair, including 11 companies from six countries; India, Turkey, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Malaysia, alongside local businesses.

Exhibits covered a wide range of industries, from garments, leather, jute and agro-processed goods to furniture, electronics, handicrafts, cosmetics, toys, real estate services and fast food.

During the closing ceremony, awards were presented to 40 institutions for excellence in pavilion design, product display, customer service, cleanliness, digital presence and innovation.

As part of the fair, the EPB organised eight seminars on export diversification and capacity building, in collaboration with Ministry of Commerce, trade promotion bodies (BSCIC, SME Foundation, JDPC), industry associations (BPGMEA, BGAPMEA, BFPIA, BanglaCraft) and development partners including World Bank, GIZ, FCDO and BSI.

An Export Enclave showcased seven leading export sectors for local and foreign buyers. Visitor-friendly facilities such as a Senior Citizen Corner, mother and child care centre and a children&rsquo;s park were provided, alongside health awareness campaigns by voluntary organisations. Security measures included CCTV surveillance, law enforcement presence and fire safety units.

The Directorate of National Consumers&rsquo; Rights Protection monitored food quality and consumer protection throughout the month.

Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin officially closed the fair, with Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman presiding over the ceremony.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:42:39 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Prime Bank’s sustainability and Climate Action Report]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/203" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/203</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Prime Bank PLC. has officially launched its Sustainability Report and Climate Action Report at a ceremony held at The Westin Dhaka, reaffirming its commitment to responsible and climate-conscious banking.

The program was inaugurated by Chowdhury Liakat Ali, Director of the Sustainable Finance Department of Bangladesh Bank, also addressed the gathering, offering encouraging words, guiding the Bank on its sustainability journey and outlining the regulator&rsquo;s expectations from commercial banks.

The event was attended by Hassan O. Rashid, CEO of Prime Bank; Faisal Rahman, Additional Managing Director (AMD); Ziaur Rahman, DMD &amp; CRO; senior officials from the Bangladesh Bank Sustainable Finance Department, representatives from international partners and CSR collaborators.

Hassan O. Rashid, CEO of Prime Bank emphasized the Bank&rsquo;s long-term sustainability goals and strategic alignment with global climate priorities. &ldquo;This report reflects our continued journey in embedding sustainability into our core business and our collective responsibility to support a greener future,&rdquo; he stated.

Prime Bank showcased its diverse CSR programs focusing on climate resilience, underscoring its role in fostering sustainable development across communities. Through the publication of these reports, Prime Bank demonstrates its dedication to transparency, accountability and leadership in climate action, aligning with both national and global sustainability agendas.

Prime Bank press release/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 12:27:54 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Dandy Dyeing loan case withdrawn !]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/192" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/192</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Sonali Bank PLC authorities have withdrawn the Taka 45-crore loan default case against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the party&#39;s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and 14 others over alleged default by Dandy Dyeing Limited. Confirming the matter to BSS, Khaleda Zia&#39;s lawyer Mostaq Ahmed Koel said Dhaka Money Loan Court-1 passed the order on November 11, allowing a plea of the Sonali Bank authorities.

Sonali Bank panel lawyer Advocate Jahangir Hossain said the case was withdrawn after the company cleared its dues with the bank. &quot;We submitted a petition seeking withdrawal of the case after full repayment. The court granted the petition,&quot; he said.

According to the case documents, on October 2, 2013, Sonali Bank&#39;s senior executive officer Nazrul Islam filed the money loan recovery case with Dhaka&#39;s 1st Money Loan Court, accusing Dandy Dyeing Ltd of defaulting on Taka 45, 59, 37,295.

After the death of co-accused Arafat Rahman Koko, the bank on March 8, 2015, sought inclusion of his mother, Khaleda Zia; wife, Sharmila Rahman; and daughters, Jafia and Zahia, as defendants under Islamic inheritance rules. The court granted the plea on March 16, 2015.

On February 22, 2016, the court framed issues against all 16 defendants, including Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. The defendants were Dandy Dyeing Ltd, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Sharmila Rahman, Jafia Rahman, Zahia Rahman, Shams Eskander, Safin Eskander, Sumaiya Eskander, Begum Nasrin Ahmed, Giasuddin Al Mamun, his wife Shahina Yasmin, Kazi Galib Ahmed, Shamsun Nahar and Masud Hasan.]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:24:21 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Sammilito Islami Bank is coming]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/160" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/160</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[In a major move to stabilise the financial system, Bangladesh Bank has declared five struggling Islamic banks inoperative, dissolved their boards, and initiated steps to merge them into a new government-owned entity &mdash; Sammilito Islami Bank Limited. The affected banks are First Security Islami Bank PLC, Global Islami Bank PLC, Union Bank PLC, EXIM Bank PLC and Social Islami Bank PLC.

Under the Banking Companies Regulation Ordinance, 1962, the boards of all five banks have been suspended, while operations continue under central bank supervision. Customers are assured that daily banking services, including ATMs, mobile banking, salaries, and cheque clearances, will remain uninterrupted.

The merger follows a proposal from Bangladesh Bank and recommendations from the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), approved by the National Economic Council&rsquo;s Advisory Committee on October 9, 2025.

Bangladesh Bank officials cited chronic financial weaknesses in the banks, including excessive classified loans, in some cases over 40% of portfolios, severe liquidity crises requiring repeated emergency funding, capital shortfalls, with Tier-1 ratios below regulatory requirements, poor loan loss provisioning and declining asset quality, negative net asset values (NAV) and plummeting market confidence and collapsing share prices.

Despite repeated liquidity support and restructuring efforts, these banks failed to recover, with governance lapses and weak internal controls further threatening their viability.

&ldquo;These banks were no longer viable as independent entities,&rdquo; a senior Bangladesh Bank official said. &ldquo;Without intervention, the risks to depositors and the financial system were too high.&rdquo;

The new state-owned bank will consolidate all assets, liabilities, branches (over 650 nationwide), employees, and customer accounts. An interim management team appointed by Bangladesh Bank will oversee the transition, with full integration expected within 90 days. The new bank will operate under strict Shariah compliance and prudential banking standards.
Chairmen and managing directors of the affected banks were urgently summoned to Bangladesh Bank headquarters on Wednesday and formally briefed on the board dissolutions and transition plan. Company secretaries have also received directives. Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur is scheduled to address the media at 4 PM, sharing further details and preliminary audit findings.

This consolidation marks the largest restructuring in Bangladesh&rsquo;s banking history and signals the central bank&rsquo;s stricter oversight of Islamic finance institutions. Analysts say the move sets a precedent for combining religious compliance with strong financial discipline.

A special investigation cell will review prior management practices and related-party transactions. Bangladesh Bank will also publish a white paper detailing the financial and governance failures of the merged banks. Customers are advised to continue using existing accounts, with updates to be communicated officially.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:13:43 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[S Alam  claiming ‘hundreds of millions’ to Bangladesh Govt.]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/144" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/144</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The Chairman of much discussed and criticized business conglomerate - S Alam Group, has submitted an international arbitration claim arguing that Dhaka&rsquo;s efforts to recover assets it alleges were illegally funnelled overseas have cost his family&rsquo;s business &ldquo;hundreds of millions&rdquo; of dollars. Lawyers for Saiful Alam and his family filed the request for arbitration on Monday to the World Bank&rsquo;s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington.

In the claim, the family argues that it has been the victim of a &ldquo;targeted campaign of arbitrary asset freezing, confiscation and value destruction&rdquo; by the interim government of Muhammad Yunus, who was installed after a popular uprising overthrew the regime of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year.

The case is a potential setback to the Yunus government&rsquo;s efforts to claw back billions of dollars that it says were diverted out of the country under Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s 15-year rule. An economic white paper commissioned by the Bangladeshi government and published in December estimated that toll at about $234bn.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur, who is leading the government&rsquo;s asset recovery effort, accused the S Alam family of diverting about $12bn out of the country&rsquo;s banking system. &ldquo;Where is the money?&rdquo; he said. S Alam, which has interests in sectors including food, construction, garments and banking, has said there is &ldquo;no truth&rdquo; to Mansur&rsquo;s allegations.

The arbitration claim was made under a 2004 bilateral investment treaty between Bangladesh and Singapore, where the S Alam family is based. Family members obtained Singapore citizenship between 2021 and 2023, having renounced Bangladeshi nationality in 2020, according to legal documents seen by the FT. The S Alam family has argued previously that as Singaporean citizens, they should be protected by rights granted by Bangladesh&rsquo;s 1980 law on foreign private investment.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:19:54 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[GP CEO granted bail in fraud case]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/143" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/143</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Grameenphone Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yasir Azman and two other top officials have secured bail in a case filed over allegations of fraud and breach of trust. On Sunday, the trio surrendered before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rounak Jahan Taki through their lawyers and sought bail. After a hearing, the court granted them bail upon a bond of Tk 5,000 each.

The other two accused who received bail are Fazlul Haque, Acting Chairman of Grameenphone&rsquo;s Trustee Board, and SayedaTahya Hossain, Chief Human Resources Officer.

Earlier, on September 26, former Grameenphone employee Rakibul Azam filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate&rsquo;s Court in Dhaka, accusing the three of fraud and breach of trust. The court recorded the complainant&rsquo;s statement and summoned the accused to appear before the court on October 26.

Following the order, they surrendered before the court on Sunday morning. The hearing began around noon, with the accused standing in the dock as their lawyers argued for bail. Defence counsel Shomaji told the court that the case stemmed from a &ldquo;disputed contract&rdquo;, saying the accused &ldquo;respect the law and the court&rdquo;. There was another case in the labour court which was stayed by the High Court. Ld. Shomaji also placed his submission before the court that the allegations of fraud and theft are baseless. The alleged contract does not even specify any monetary amount. These are senior officials performing key duties. The case was filed simply to harass them.&rdquo;

The plaintiff&rsquo;s lawyer Rokeya Akter opposed the bail petitions, saying her client was owed more than Tk 800,000. &ldquo;When he went to Grameenphone to collect his payment, they made him sign a Tk 300 stamp paper, saying they would issue a cheque later. But they did not pay him, and he has been seeking justice ever since,&rdquo; she told the court. With permission from the magistrate, Rakibul himself spoke, insisting that &ldquo;this case has no link with the labour court proceedings&rdquo;, adding that Grameenphone had &ldquo;lost there and later secured a six-month stay from the High Court&rdquo;.

The case had been filed under sections 406, 420, 380, and 109 of the Penal Code against three senior officials of Grameenphone, alleging non-payment ofTk 828,998 from the Welfare Fund. The plaintiff claimed that the accused had failed to clear the dues. But the lawyers argued that the allegation was false, and that was why the court had earlier issued a summons. They added that the court had done justice by granting bail to the accused.

Opposing the bail plea today, the plaintiff&#39;s lawyer Rokeya Akter said that Grameenphone owes her client unpaid dues for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. She stated that the plaintiff repeatedly visited Grameenphone to collect his dues, and the company had assured him of payment after signing an agreement. However, she alleged that the accused deceived him, exploiting his good faith and never paid the money.

&quot;When the plaintiff later approached Fazlul Haque, acting chairman of Grameenphone&#39;s trustee board, he reportedly replied, &#39;Oh, they haven&#39;t paid you yet? I&#39;ll look into it&#39;.&quot; But since then, she claimed, they have continued to delay and avoid payment.

According to the case statement, the plaintiff Rakibul Azam worked for Grameenphone Ltd from 2006 to 2021. During his employment, between 2010 and 2012, he was instructed to distribute funds held under outsourcing arrangements among employees. As a result, Grameenphone owed him Tk 828,998 for the outsourcing work.

On 10 November (year unspecified), the plaintiff was called to collect his payment. When he went to the office, the accused allegedly took his signature on a Tk300 non-judicial stamp paper and sent him away without paying the money. Afterwards, they continued to avoid repayment through various excuses.

According to the case statement, Rakibul worked at Grameenphone from 2006 to 2021. Between 2010 and 2012, he was involved in disbursing funds from an outsourcing project among employees. He claimed that the company still owed him Tk 829,998. When he went to collect the payment in November last year, the accused allegedly took his signature on a Tk 300 stamp paper and sent him away without payment. He alleged that the company then avoided repaying the amount despite repeated requests.

However, Grameenphone in a statement said, &quot;This is a case motivated for harassment. This case has been filed with the intention of harassing our senior management. We have faith in the law. We believe that we will get justice in the honorable court.&quot;

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 10:55:33 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Govt. starts importing wheat from USA]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/140" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/140</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The first-ever consignment of wheat from the United States, totaling about 56,959 metric tonnes (MTs), has arrived at Chittagong Port. According to a press release from Ministry of Food issued on Saturday, the shipment arrived on Friday aboard the vessel MV NORSE STRIDE under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Bangladesh will import a total of 440,000 MTs of wheat from the USA.

The import process is being implemented by Directorate General of Food (DGF) in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Authorities have already begun sample testing of the wheat aboard the vessel and unloading will commence once the quality verification is completed.

Of the first shipment, 34,170 MTs will be unloaded at Chittagong Port, while the remaining 22,789 MTs will be discharged at Mongla Port, the ministry said.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:54:26 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Bangladesh Bank plans to shut 9 troubled non-bank financial institutions]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/53" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/53</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced plans to close nine non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs)

Governor Ahsan H Mansur confirmed the matter saying that the decision was taken to ensure people could recover their savings safely.

The nine institutions are FAS Finance, Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, Premier Leasing, Fareast Finance, GSP Finance, Prime Finance, Aviva Finance, People&rsquo;s Leasing, and International Leasing.

&#39;&#39;Each institution is being monitored, and only then will we determine how much government support is required,&#39;&#39; the Governor said, adding that the closures would be completed within the year.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 23 Aug 2025 06:20:33 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Press briefings of commerce adviser is due]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/26" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/26</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin will hold a press briefing today (14 July) regarding his recent official visit to Washington, DC, for a three-day Bangladesh-United States tariff negotiation.

The briefing will take place at 4:30pm in the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce, according to a press invitation issued by the ministry this morning.

The third and final day of the second round of tariff negotiations between Bangladesh and the United States concluded in Washington DC on 11 July 2025, with several issues still unresolved.

While the two countries reached consensus on a number of matters, others remained pending, leaving Bangladesh without a formal agreement.

As a result, the 35% tariff proposed in a letter from US President Donald Trump to the then Chief Adviser of Bangladesh will remain applicable, and is set to come into effect from 1 August.

A date for the next round of negotiations will be confirmed soon.

Following the conclusion of the three-day meetings, both Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman expressed optimism, stating that &quot;a positive outcome can be reached within the stipulated timeframe.&quot;

PT/RA

 ]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:59:55 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Revolutionary budget is not feasible overnight.]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/23" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/23</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Desk Report: Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday stated that it is unrealistic to expect a revolutionary shift from the country&rsquo;s traditional macroeconomic model in the span of a single budget cycle. &ldquo;Many had anticipated a dramatic, revolutionary budget&mdash;heavy in revenue reforms and breakaway measures. But that&rsquo;s not feasible overnight. However, it&rsquo;s also incorrect to claim we are simply mimicking the previous government,&rdquo; he said at a post-budget press briefing held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. He emphasized that the interim administration has aimed for a budget that is realistic, pragmatic, and implementable, despite challenges such as inflation, energy concerns, revenue shortfalls, and vulnerabilities in the banking sector.

Criticizing the previous growth narrative, Dr. Salehuddin questioned, &ldquo;Who truly benefited from that growth? It wasn&rsquo;t equitably distributed.&rdquo; He added that the new budget focuses on improving the livelihoods of ordinary citizens, enhancing purchasing power, and establishing a peaceful, disciplined environment for businesses. Acknowledging the difficulty of addressing all public demands, he noted: &ldquo;We respect the demands, but not all can be met. Still, this is a pro-people and pro-business budget.&rdquo; He also highlighted the importance of constructive criticism and collaboration. &ldquo;We urge the public and the media to come forward with helpful suggestions. Together, we can implement this budget and move the country forward.&rdquo; Reflecting on Bangladesh&rsquo;s economic performance, the adviser said, &ldquo;Our pace was sluggish before we took office, but we&rsquo;re making efforts to move forward. We&rsquo;re focusing on safety nets and aiming to leave behind a foundation of reform for the next government.&rdquo;

Other top officials present at the briefing included Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, Home and Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen. (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Power and Transport Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H Mansur, Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, and NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan.

Dr. Salehuddin had earlier unveiled the Tk 7.90 lakh crore FY26 national budget on Monday via a pre-recorded televised speech, due to the absence of a functioning parliament.]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 06:06:51 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[BGMEA polls today]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/national/10" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/national/10</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Business Desk: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)&#39;s polls today, Saturday, more than seven months after its board was dissolved during political upheaval.

Voting will take place from 8am to 5pm at two centres -- Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka and Radisson Blu Hotel Chattogram Bay View.

The election will decide the leadership of the organisation for the 2025-27 term. A total of 76 candidates from three panels are contesting 35 director seats. While the Forum and Sammilito Parishad panel have nominated candidates for all posts, the Oikka Parishad panel has put forward candidates for six positions. After the vote, the elected directors will choose the organisation&rsquo;s president, vice-presidents and other office bearers.

The three panels have promised to protect members&rsquo; interests, demand a separate ministry for the garment sector, support small entrepreneurs, safeguard workers&rsquo; and owners&rsquo; rights, implement several development plans for the garment industry, address the impact of climate change and resolve gas and electricity issues. Sammilito Parishad, led by Abul Kalam, has made a 12-point pledge in its manifesto. Forum, under the leadership of Mahmud Hasan Khan, has presented a 14-point manifesto. Meanwhile, the Oikko Parishad panel, headed by Mohammad Mohsin, has pledged 16 points. Calls to dissolve the BGMEA board surfaced after the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024.

The board was formally dissolved on Oct 20, when the interim government appointed Anwar Hossain, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), as BGMEA&rsquo;s administrator. Though elections were to be held within 120 days of his appointment, delays occurred due to updating the voter list and unrest among garment workers. More than four months after the deadline, BGMEA elections are now set to take place. This year&rsquo;s voter count has dropped due to a policy limiting eligibility to only active factory owners. While the earlier election saw 2,496 voters, the current list includes 1,865 -- with 1,561 in Dhaka and 303 in Chattogram.

pt/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 31 May 2025 03:22:57 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[US trade court blocked Trump&#039;s tariffs]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/6" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/6</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Business Report: A US trade court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump&#39;s tariffs from going into effect in a sweeping ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy.

The Court of International Trade said the US Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate commerce with other countries that is not overridden by the president&#39;s emergency powers to safeguard the US economy.

&quot;The court does not pass upon the wisdom or likely effectiveness of the President&#39;s use of tariffs as leverage. That use is impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law] does not allow it,&quot; a three-judge panel said in the decision.

The Trump administration minutes later filed a notice of appeal and questioned the authority of the court. The decisions of the Manhattan-based Court of International Trade, which hears disputes involving international trade and customs laws, can be appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, DC, and ultimately the US Supreme Court.

Trump has made charging US importers tariffs on goods from foreign countries the central policy of his ongoing trade wars, which have severely disrupted global trade flows and roiled financial markets.

Companies of all sizes have been whipsawed by Trump&#39;s swift imposition of tariffs and sudden reversals as they seek to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices.

A White House spokesperson on Wednesday said US trade deficits with other countries constituted &quot;a national emergency that has decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base &ndash; facts that the court did not dispute.&quot;

&quot;It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency,&quot; Kush Desai, the spokesperson, said in a statement.

Financial markets cheered the ruling. The US dollar rallied following the court&#39;s order, surging against currencies such as the euro, yen and the Swiss franc in particular. Wall Street futures rose and equities across Asia also rose.

The ruling, if it stands, blows a giant hole through Trump&#39;s strategy to use steep tariffs to wring concessions from trading partners, draw manufacturing jobs back to US shores and shrink a $1.2 trillion US goods trade deficit, which were among his key campaign promises.

Without the instant leverage provided by the tariffs of 10% to 54% that Trump declared under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) -- which is meant to address &quot;unusual and extraordinary&quot; threats during a national emergency -- the Trump administration would have to take a slower approach of lengthier trade investigations under other trade laws to back its tariff threats.

The ruling came in a pair of lawsuits, one filed by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small US businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the duties and the other by 13 US states.

The companies, which range from a New York wine and spirits importer to a Virginia-based maker of educational kits and musical instruments, have said the tariffs will hurt their ability to do business.

&quot;There is no question here of narrowly tailored relief; if the challenged Tariff Orders are unlawful as to Plaintiffs they are unlawful as to all,&quot; the trade court wrote in its decision.

At least five other legal challenges to the tariffs are pending.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, a Democrat whose office is leading the states&#39; lawsuit, called Trump&#39;s tariffs unlawful, reckless and economically devastating.

&quot;This ruling reaffirms that our laws matter, and that trade decisions can&rsquo;t be made on the president&rsquo;s whim,&quot; Rayfield said in a statement.

Trump has claimed broad authority to set tariffs under IEEPA. The law has historically been used to impose sanctions on enemies of the US or freeze their assets. Trump is the first US president to use it to impose tariffs.

The Justice Department has said the lawsuits should be dismissed because the plaintiffs have not been harmed by tariffs that they have not yet paid, and because only Congress, not private businesses, can challenge a national emergency declared by the president under IEEPA.

In imposing the tariffs in early April, Trump called the trade deficit a national emergency that justified his 10% across-the-board tariff on all imports, with higher rates for countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits, particularly China.

Many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later. The Trump administration on May 12 said it was also temporarily reducing the steepest tariffs on China while working on a longer-term trade deal. Both countries agreed to cut tariffs on each other for at least 90 days.

pt/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Thu, 29 May 2025 09:06:57 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Country&#039;s per capita income climbs to highest ever]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/2" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/2</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Economic Reporter: Bangladesh&#39;s average per capita income reached an all-time high of $2,820 in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to provisional estimates.

The state-run Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) released the data on Tuesday, reporting an $82 rise from FY2025&rsquo;s $2,738.

The previous record was $2,793, registered in FY2022. A senior BBS official said higher inward remittance was the key driving factor behind the record income.

The estimate, based on seven months of economic data, includes projections on gross domestic product (GDP) size, growth, investment ratio, per capita income, and sector-wise production.

These are interim figures and will be finalised after a full-year review. Per capita income reflects the share of national earnings, including remittance income, divided among the total population.

It does not represent individual earnings.

Despite the increase in income, GDP growth has slowed noticeably. The BBS expects the economy to expand by 3.97 percent this fiscal year, marking the lowest growth rate in half a decade.

In FY2024, the growth rate was 4.22 percent, marking a four-year low. This year&rsquo;s outlook aligns closely with earlier assessments by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, both of which had forecasted sub-4 percent growth for Bangladesh. GDP is calculated based on the total value of goods and services produced in a country over a year.

According to BBS estimates, Bangladesh&#39;s GDP in FY2025 stands at $462 billion, or Tk 55.53 trillion, at Tk 120.29 per US dollar. At the end of FY2024, total GDP was $450 billion, or Tk 50.27 trillion.

The start of the fiscal year was marred by political turmoil across the country amid calls for regime change.

Widespread blockades, clashes, and internet shutdowns disrupted economic activities, dragging down growth in the first quarter to just 1.96 percent. During the same period in the year before, it had been 5.87 percent.

Investment has also lost momentum. BBS reports that the investment-to-GDP ratio now stands at 29.38 percent, down from 30.70 percent a year earlier.

Following the transition to an interim government, political tension eased and the country saw greater stability. Analysts, however, believe the economic impact of the early-year unrest will continue to reflect in the overall growth rate by year-end.

pt/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Wed, 28 May 2025 11:40:28 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[New Notes Soon!]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/1" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/trade-and-commerce/1</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Staff Reporter: Bangladesh Bank has said new banknotes will be available from the first week of June, as early as Sunday or Monday, with fresh designs for the Tk 1000, Tk 50, and Tk 20 notes.

On Sunday, Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arief Hossain Khan confirmed that banks will distribute the notes from Jun 1 or Jun 2.

The redesigned notes will showcase images of mosques, temples, historic landmarks, and natural landscapes instead, Governor Ahsan H Mansur said on Saturday.

&ldquo;Three new notes will be introduced to the market very soon. You&rsquo;ll see them before Eid. No individual&rsquo;s portrait will appear on them.&rdquo; &ldquo;They will feature our natural scenery and iconic heritage structures,&rdquo; he added.

At the start of Ramadan, Mansur had said the central bank would release new notes using the old design on Mar 19 on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, featuring Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman&rsquo;s image and the signature of former governor Abdur Rouf Talukder.

He had said the currency notes without Bangabandhu&rsquo;s image were expected to hit the market at the end of April or early May. Several days before the scheduled release of the fresh notes, however, the central bank announced that the new currency notes would not be issued for Eid-ul-Fitr, breaking away from a long-standing tradition. Bangladesh Bank did not explain the move, though rumours exist that objections to notes with Bangabandhu&#39;s image had led to the decision.

pt/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Wed, 28 May 2025 11:10:18 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
    </feed>
