Teknaf to Tentulia economic corridor on the horizon
29 April 2026, 00:00 AM
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed a 20-year development plan involving about $79 billion to build a major economic corridor from Teknaf to Tentulia with the view to decongesting Dhaka and Chattogram, in line with the BNP’s election manifesto.
29 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Anomalies found in Family Card pilot
28 April 2026, 00:00 AM
The finance ministry has found a host of anomalies in the pilot of the Family Card programme, as the government seeks to iron out irregularities and ensure the BNP’s flagship social welfare initiative can withstand the scrutiny of development partners.
28 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Cost of customs upgrade project set for 40% hike
26 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Three years after launch and with 99 percent of its budget unspent, a nearly Tk 1,700 crore customs modernisation project is set to be presented to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) today with a proposal to extend its deadline and raise costs by nearly 40 percent.
26 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Govt to establish 170 urban health centres in Dhaka, Ctg
25 April 2026, 00:00 AM
The government plans to set up at least one Urban Primary Health and Nutrition Centre in every ward of Dhaka North, Dhaka South, and Chattogram city corporations for residents deprived of care due to fragmented delivery of services.
25 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Govt eyeing $2b in emergency aid from IMF
23 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh is eyeing $2 billion in emergency aid from the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) window to cushion the economic shock stemming from the Middle East war.
23 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Govt, IMF at odds over spending on polls pledges
19 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh and the International Monetary Fund are locked in new disagreements over the country’s economic programme, with tensions centring on social spending, revenue mobilisation, exchange rate policy, and the pace of financial sector reforms.
19 April 2026, 00:00 AM
IMF, WB assure Dhaka of funds to absorb war shocks
18 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Officials in the 11-member delegation said Bangladesh pressed for additional funds to cover the shortfall caused by the energy crisis, beyond regular budget support
18 April 2026, 00:00 AM
Planning commission: Advisory panel outlines overhaul of governance
16 April 2026, 03:29 AM
A high-level advisory committee, formed by the Planning Commission to develop a sustainable development strategy, plans to recommend the government introduce a bicameral parliament, reinstate the caretaker government system, and ensure media freedom.
16 April 2026, 03:29 AM
Public Procurement: Focus to shift from lowest offer in tender
The government is poised to adopt a set of guidelines that will fundamentally change the way 40 percent of the annual budget is spent, focusing on the whole life cycle cost of goods and services rather than the lowest tender offer in public procurement.
18 February 2023, 01:00 AM
LNG Spot Purchase: Another cargo on way at lesser price
Bangladesh has ramped up its activity in the international spot market for liquefied natural gas after the recess of seven months, purchasing yet another cargo in a space of two weeks as the government looks to ensure adequate supply ahead of Ramadan and the summer months.
13 February 2023, 18:00 PM
Per capita external debt doubles in 7 years
The country’s per capita external debt currently stands at more than double from what was seven years ago as both public and private sector foreign loans have seen an increase by this time.
13 February 2023, 02:30 AM
Private sector’s foreign debt down by over $1b
The private sector’s foreign debt decreased by 4.3 per cent, or more than $1 billion, in the second quarter of the current fiscal year following Bangladesh Bank’s strict measures to control imports.
13 February 2023, 02:00 AM
Record subsidy allocation not enough
The record subsidy allocation of Tk 82,745 crore is set to be topped up with another Tk 27,360 crore in the revised budget in the face of demands from ministries even after the notable price hike of gas, electricity and fuel.
9 February 2023, 01:00 AM
No chance of debt distress
Bangladesh has a low risk of external and overall debt distress despite higher external borrowing in recent terms, said the International Monetary Fund.
6 February 2023, 01:20 AM
Weak banking sector, Achilles’ heel of economy
The International Monetary Fund has identified the problems in the banking system, including the high volume of defaulted loans, as one of the three domestic risks that derail the economy in the short- to medium-term.
5 February 2023, 01:00 AM
$6b more to come from dev partners
Bangladesh is expected to get about $6 billion over the next four years from development partners other than the International Monetary Fund to meet the development financing needs, particularly to address climate change challenges.
4 February 2023, 01:00 AM
Govt commits to 20 IMF conditions
The International Monetary Fund has laid out 20 conditions for Bangladesh for its $4.7 billion loan programme aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability, accelerating overdue macroeconomic reforms and tackling climate change challenges.
2 February 2023, 18:00 PM
IMF $4.7B Loan: Programme to nurse economy to health
The International Monetary Fund’s $4.7 billion loan programme won’t be a miracle worker for the Bangladesh economy.
1 February 2023, 01:30 AM
Come June, reserves will hit $37.7b
The government is expecting the shrinking foreign currency reserves will buck the trend and hit $37.7 billion by June thanks to lower imports and budget support from development partners.
30 January 2023, 01:20 AM
Use of foreign fund in ADP far below target
Apart from export and remittance earnings, the government has placed importance on securing more foreign funding in the current fiscal year to shield the country’s foreign currency reserves from depletion.
27 January 2023, 02:00 AM
ADP revision: Govt doing opposite of what’s needed
It seems the government is doing an about-turn from the austerity stance taken at the start of the fiscal year.
25 January 2023, 01:00 AM
Food distribution for poor: When more is needed, govt doing less
Scaling up public food distribution programmes for the poor and the vulnerable is the need of the hour -- given the cost of living crisis. But the government seems to be shying away from stepping up to this task.
24 January 2023, 01:00 AM
IMF Loan Programme: Getting Bangladesh ready for LDC graduation
The prospective loan programme of the International Monetary Fund will prime Bangladesh for graduation from the least-developed country bracket and reach middle-income country status by 2031, said the lender’s top official.
18 January 2023, 01:40 AM
IMF $4.5B Loan: Deputy MD to get a taste of Bangladesh
There would not be any further negotiations on the $4.5 billion loan programme during International Monetary Fund’s deputy managing director Antoinette Monsio Sayeh’s forthcoming visit to Bangladesh.
12 January 2023, 01:00 AM
WB forecasts 5.2pc GDP growth
The World Bank yesterday delivered yet another bad news for the economy as the Washington-based multilateral lender pared back Bangladesh’s growth forecast for this fiscal year by 1.5 percent to 5.2 percent.
11 January 2023, 01:00 AM
Stimulus for large, small industries: Tk 50,000cr fresh funds see tepid disbursement
Two of the government’s 28 Covid-19 stimulus packages saw a fresh injection of Tk 50,000 crore in the ongoing financial year, but only 4 per cent of the fund was disbursed between July and October.
9 January 2023, 04:00 AM
Amnesty to bring back black money yields no result
The maiden tax amnesty offered by the government to bring back laundered money home has seemed to have brought no result since none secured the facility in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
8 January 2023, 02:30 AM
Balance of payments under stress
The financial account of the balance of payments (BoP) turned negative in the first five months of the current fiscal year, highlighting the challenges Bangladesh is facing in protecting its foreign currency reserves from depletion as funds outflows exceeded inflows.
8 January 2023, 02:00 AM