Jagaran Chakma is a Staff Reporter of The Daily Star
Automobile sales have dropped substantially since July this year amidst the economic downturn and political turmoil, denting any hopes of recovering from last year’s slump, according to market insiders.
The fate of six state-owned sugar mills remains uncertain as there has been no upgrading progress since those were closed three and a half years ago, contributing to soaring prices of the sweetener in the local market.
Meghna Automobiles, the automotive arm of Meghna Group, began selling three locally assembled sport utility vehicles (SUVs) of South Korean automobile manufacturer KIA recently.
Sales of cement nearly halved in the last couple of months as real estate developers shelved construction plans while public projects came screeching to a halt in the face of nationwide unrest and the sudden political changeover.
Tyre makers in Bangladesh are ramping up production in a bid to expand their market share by catering to a potential supply shortage that may arise from the recent destruction of the Gazi Tyres factory in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj.
Global hikes in tyre and tube-making raw materials rates and a factory rampage at local key manufacturer Gazi Tyres have caused a shortage and price hikes for the auto item used in lightweight two- and three-wheelers like motorbikes and auto-rickshaws.
Standing outside the charred ruins of the Gazi Tyres factory in Rupsi, Rupganj on September 9, Billal Hossain was staring at a bleak future.
Luxury hotels in Dhaka are yet to resume normal business activities as foreign and local clients do not feel confident in travelling to the country given that the overall situation is still unstable.
While foreign construction firms are using imported prefabricated modular units of steel in the country’s mega projects, Dhaka Mass Transit Company is using that made locally in the metro rail project, resting assured of their international standard.
The demand for motorcycles with a higher engine capacity is growing among bike enthusiasts in Bangladesh as these models are becoming increasingly safer and cheaper.
The market for particle board is thriving in Bangladesh on the back of the rising demand for timber-alternative furniture and their growing use in interior designing.
High import duties on raw materials are dampening price competitiveness of Bangladesh’s furniture industry, a major drawback to tapping into international markets.
Ice cream manufacturers are enjoying robust sales after launching awareness campaigns on how consuming the sweetened frozen food does not increase the risk of contracting a serious case of Covid-19.
Factory inspection teams have identified fire safety infractions at around 979 units in the past two months.
Bangladesh is unlikely to face any immediate effect for the coal export ban by Indonesia, the world’s biggest thermal coal exporter.
Medicines worth $105.50 million were exported in the July-December period, up from $86.33 million in the same period a year ago, data from the Export Promotion Bureau showed.
The government is close to striking a deal with foreign investors for reopening the six shut sugar mills as part of its plan to make the losing Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) sustainable.
Sales of sport utility vehicles (SUV) and luxury cars grew at an annual average of 39 per cent in Bangladesh in the past decade as more people, armed with rising income, are buying automobiles in higher numbers.