The six consecutive days of rise brought smiles to the faces of stock investors today just before the three-day closure of the stock market on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

The use of bKash, the leading mobile financial service provider in Bangladesh, has given a boost to the income of households, empowered women and reduced the impact of risks during times of uncertainty, according to a study of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS).

The customs houses will remain open to facilitate export and import activities during Eid holidays.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation has launched a digital payments solution for the apparel sector, which is the key and main currency earner of the country’s exports with an around 85 per cent contribution.

Since the beginning of 2021, the world has been experiencing another deadly wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. In South Asia, infection rates have increased, and death rates are higher than in the first wave in 2020.

Like other parts of the country, shops in the Khulna and Barishal divisions have become inundated with customers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival in Bangladesh.

Naoki: Bangladesh at present and Japan in 1971 share almost the same level of GDP per capita (About $2,000). Japan achieved rapid economic growth after the Second World War, particularly in the 1960s and the 1970s.

Alice Labs, a startup by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, has raised $500,000 as seed fund as it aims to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia, Middle East and North African markets to cater to businesses looking to provide better customer services, said the company yesterday.

Dhaka stocks crossed the 5,700-point mark for the first time in three months yesterday with insurance and banking stocks leading the charge.

People’s desperation to visit their permanent residences for Eid celebrations brings cheers to vehicle rental services providers amidst the gloom of the pandemic.

Mahbubul Alam has been re-elected president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in an election that saw all director hopefuls emerging victorious without any votes.

Some 200 garment factories could not pay workers’ salaries and festival bonuses as of yesterday although the Eid-ul-Fitr festival is just knocking at the door, said union leaders.

Rapid coronavirus vaccination, upgrading the creaking health system and expanding social protection should be the focus of the upcoming budget to bring the crisis under control, economists said.

Mahbubul Alam, chairman of M Alam Group, has been reelected as the president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) for the fifth consecutive time for 2021-22 and 2022-23 period.

Some 200 garment factories are yet to pay the workers’ salaries and bonuses as of today although the Eid festival is just knocking at the door, union leaders said.

The stock market gained today maintaining the rising trend of the last five consecutive trading days thanks to the increased participation of investors.

UK’s Provident Financial said on Monday it was exiting its 141-year-old doorstep-lending division, adding that it has begun a consultation process for 2,100 employees, as the pandemic delivered the final blow to the loss-making business.

While the DSEX, the Dhaka Stock Exchange’s benchmark index, witnessed its lowest level in nearly seven years since January 2013, Vanguard Asset Management managed an open-end mutual fund showcasing noteworthy performance even amidst the pandemic.

World stocks ticked up to new peaks on Monday on bets interest rates will remain low and the economy continue its recovery, while oil prices jumped after a cyber attack on a US pipeline operator unnerved markets.

Some Toyota Motor shareholders have criticized its President Akio Toyoda for questioning Japan’s plans to ban conventional cars only days after the firm said it was reviewing its climate lobbying and aimed for carbon neutrality by 2050.