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.
The consumer market in Uttara, a planned suburb in Dhaka city, has witnessed steady growth over the years, prompting many retailers and brands to expand their operations in the area.
Before the 90s, Uttara offered little aside from open fields of green and waterlogged land.
Bangladesh is going to seek more than 36 billion yuan, equivalent to $5 billion, as soft loans from China to reduce pressure on its dollar reserves.
The three state-run oil companies in Bangladesh booked double-digit growth in profits during the first nine months of the current fiscal year even after a decline in sales mainly due to a rise in income from bank deposit interests.
However, although ACs provide a much-needed respite from the heat, the home appliance also draws a lot of power, leading to higher electricity bills and putting a further strain on people who are already suffering due to heightened inflation.
While Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector has exceeded expectations and surpassed many comparator countries, the industry’s reliance on imports for raw materials has long been a limiting factor.
The year 1982 was a watershed in the history of the pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh as the government stepped in to lay the foundation for its stellar growth in the subsequent decades.
He now holds 17 percent or Tk 499 crore worth of shares of the company
Of the investment, $19 million came from its own pockets whereas $26 million in the form of a syndicated loan, which was released recently, he said.
Wood plastic composites in the form of kitchen cabinets, bathroom and balcony doors are slowly gaining popularity in Bangladesh for being an alternative to wood, according to industry insiders and realtors.