Profits of listed shoe-makers of Bangladesh dropped in 2020 despite the drastic fall in the price of rawhides as the sales of the finished products crashed because of the economic slump caused by the pandemic.

Like a million others, Ridoy Saha was rendered unemployed within weeks after Bangladesh introduced a nationwide lockdown in March last year to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Some 338 factories are running their operations across the country during the 14-day strict lockdown that began on July 23, according to the Industrial Police.

Import containers are piling up at an alarming rate at Chattogram port due to the worst delivery during the Eid holidays and the subsequent poor release of goods for the fresh lockdown, which could cause congestion anew.

Despite nine years of work and expenditure of nearly Tk 500 crore, the construction of the Central Effluent Treatment Plant in the Savar Tannery Industrial Estate (STIE) has not been completed.

Experts at a virtual dialogue yesterday emphasised addressing the gaps in policies to enhance digital inclusion since inadequacy in the ICT policies contributes to weak internet infrastructure in the country.

Chinese company Vanessa Enterprise has signed a $41.77 million deal with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) to produce accessories for ladies’ intimate garments in the Ishwardi export processing zone (EPZ) in Pabna.

After failing to get a desired government job, Jakaria Lenin, an English literature graduate in Tangail, set up a cattle farm about 11 months ago.

As much as $844 million is owed in wages and severance pay to garment workers in Bangladesh since the beginning of the pandemic, a new report of the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) said.

Wage labourers in Bangladesh passed a gruelling year as their income growth dropped to a six-year low in the last fiscal year, whereas living expenses went up amid rising inflation, official figures showed.

Around 34,000 temporary and substitute workers of state-run jute mills shut down in July last year have been living a miserable life as they are yet to get their dues.

Ford Motor said on Friday it was recalling about 775,000 Ford Explorer SUVs worldwide for a steering issue linked to reports of six injuries in North America. 

Suzuki Motor Corp will enter the electric vehicle (EV) market by 2025 starting in its stronghold market India, Nikkei reported on Monday.

Johnson & Johnson is exploring a plan to offload liabilities from widespread Baby Powder litigation into a newly created business that would then seek bankruptcy protection, according to seven people familiar with the matter. 

In light of the recent fire at the Hashem Foods factory in Narayanganj, where 52 workers tragically lost their lives, the Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA) has issued directives to its members regarding safety measures that could help prevent such disasters.

The government should encourage micro, small and medium enterprises to take on appropriate climate mitigation and adaptation measures, said the International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB).

Chinese company Vanessa Enterprise Ltd has signed a $41.77 million deal with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) to produce ladies intimate garments accessories in Ishwardi EPZ in Pabna.

Nizam Uddin, a sewing machine operator at a garment factory in Ashulia, cannot decide whether to go to his village in Mymensingh to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha with his family.

Sewtech Fashion of India yesterday signed an agreement with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza) to invest $9.26 million in establishing a readymade garments manufacturing factory in Chattogram Export Processing Zone. 

Balikandi of Moulvibazar sadar upazila has a long history of being a hub for leather trade in the greater Sylhet division. Even a few years ago, hundreds of people were making a living out of it.