Jagaran Chakma

The steel industry in Bangladesh is currently witnessing a steep drop in sales as the depreciation of taka against US dollar has hiked production costs at a time when consumers are unwilling to pay higher prices for the key construction material.

Just two decades ago, one could hardly hope to see a well-furnished bathroom in the country’s semi-urban and rural areas.

Foreign assistance utilisation by the government has gone up by 1.57 per cent year-on-year during the first two months of the current fiscal year, thanks to improvements in the use of project aid. 

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has extended the time for purchase of motorcycle without a valid driving licence until December 14.

Sales growth in the local two-wheeler industry has slowed ever since the government made it mandatory for owners to produce a valid driver’s licence when registering their motorcycle.

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) plans to sign a commercial agreement with India by this year for establishing the Indian Special Economic Zone (ISEZ) as negotiations in this regard are almost complete.

The number of filling stations that dispense liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), also known as Autogas, is on an upward trend across the country as consumption is growing amid government efforts to cut dependency on  compressed natural gas (CNG) and fuel oil.

Three bottlers control more than 50 per cent of the $3.2 billion liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market in Bangladesh, according to industry people and a recent market assessment. 

The use of foreign aid for development projects in Bangladesh jumped 49 per cent year-on-year in July, providing some relief to the government amid the ongoing pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

Both realtors and buyers have fallen into an uncomfortable situation due to the sudden increase in raw material prices amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, strain on foreign currency reserves, and rising inflation in the country.

Television sales in Bangladesh increase whenever a world cup, whether it be cricket or football, takes place. So, TV makers and retailers usually witness a festive mood during such events and the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and FIFA World Cup will be no different.

Cement makers are passing tough times amidst a decline in demand from public construction in tune with the government’s austerity measures and sluggish private initiatives on building homes and other facilities for inflation.

Local manufacturers now control 90 per cent of the once import-heavy prefabricated steel market thanks to capacity building and an increase of skilled manpower, according to industry insiders.

Real estate companies in Bangladesh are cautiously taking up new projects as the war in Ukraine, the strain on foreign currency reserves, the dollar shortage, runaway inflation and higher construction costs have cemented worries that sales of flats might slow in the coming months.

The demand for motorcycle has remained between 4 lakhs to 5 lakhs units during the last few years due to the prolonged economic impact of Covid-19 in the last two years.

Manufacturers and retailers are hopping to see a rise in demand of refrigerators since the country is rapidly recovering from the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic.

The parliament yesterday enacted Bangladesh Patents Bill 2022, aiming to make a century-old patents law more time-befitting and safeguard intellectual property rights.

Bangladesh has been Indian multinational consumer goods company Marico’s first international venture. The business is today is so successful that one out of two Bangladeshis uses its products every day. Ashish Goupal, who took over as managing director of Marico Bangladesh Ltd, in July 2018 speaks about his company’s success and future plans in an interview with The Daily Star.

Around 65 per cent Japanese companies operating in Bangladesh think that they would be able to make a profit in 2022 as the coronavirus pandemic situation has improved, according to a survey of the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro).

Flats in Bangladesh witnessed a fresh price increase as realtors are being forced to pass on the increased construction cost to customers arising out of soaring prices of steel, cement, bricks and other materials.