The central bank has already unveiled a framework to address vulnerabilities in the banking sector, rein in non-performing loans (NPLs) and punish wilful defaulters.

Bangladesh Development Bank Ltd (BDBL) will be merged with Sonali Bank while Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub) will be taken over by Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB), according to a central bank official.

The apex trade body said at present, 2 percent tax at source is applicable on the supply of items such as rice, wheat, potato, onion, garlic, chickpeas, lentils, turmeric, pepper, maize, flour, flour, salt, edible oil, sugar, and all kinds of fruits among other items.

The law minister said, while other laws had been drafted before discussions were held with stakeholders, the AI law would be prepared after thorough discussions with stakeholders.

The current challenges are over reining in inflation, increasing foreign exchange reserves, remittance inflows, expanding and diversifying exports and their destinations, and developing human resources, said FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam.

Md Afzal Karim, managing director of Sonali Bank, told The Daily Star that a formal decision was yet to be taken about the merger.

The guideline comes four months after the BB issued the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework to give a procedural direction for mergers and acquisitions amidst the deteriorating financial condition of some banks and financial institutions.

Once a little boy wanted to have his own cricket bat. But he did not have any money to buy it.

Five associations representing the ICT sector yesterday demanded that the government extend tax exemptions on businesses offering software and IT-enabled service (ITES) till 2031, saying their development was crucial to the government’s vision for a Smart Bangladesh.

Bangladesh should focus on job creation and integrating vulnerable people into the workforce as well as boosting productivity, experts said at a seminar yesterday.

The government plans to design a Tk 7,96,900 crore outlay in the new budget with a focus on tight spending policy as economic headwinds are expected to persist in the next fiscal year.

No employees of the merged entity can be fired within three years of a takeover by the acquirer, said the BB.

Bangladesh should fast-track the production of garments from man-made fibre (MMF), as the global exports of such apparel is projected to increase from 50 percent in 2022 to 60 percent in 2030, according to a recent study by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC)

Renata PLC has begun exporting medicines to the US market, becoming the sixth pharmaceutical manufacturer from Bangladesh to directly ship products to the world's largest market

Bangladesh's debt and repayment obligations are escalating, forcing the government to continually resort to borrowing to repay loans amid insufficient revenue collections, according to the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)

This will be the first meeting of the council since the new government took office after the January 7 parliamentary elections. Thus, it is the maiden meeting for the new finance minister on the budget and the overall macroeconomic situation.

At present, taxpayers show their undisclosed assets in their tax returns through investment in apartments, buildings and economic zones and high-tech parks.

On April 2, the World Bank forecast that inflation in Bangladesh might stay elevated at 9.6 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24 before moderating to 8.6 percent in FY 2024-25.

The World Bank defines extreme poverty based on an international poverty income of $2.15 a day.

They face setbacks for Ramadan and fallout from Bailey Road fire