Sohel Parvez

Sohel Parvez is the Business Editor of The Daily Star.

Tax on provident funds' income: One country, dual policy

A provision in the Income Tax Act 2023 created the discrimination

2d ago

Ageing in Bangladesh: Are we ready for more social spending?

The dependency ratio of the people who are over 65-plus years rose to 9.4 percent in 2023 from 8.6 percent in 2022.

2d ago

More households use refrigerators, ACs as income grows

Here, the steady growth of Bangladesh’s economy -- around 6 percent annually -- for the last two decades, and subsequent increases in overall buying capacity, played a big role. Another factor is the increasing domestic assembly of these items by local companies.

3d ago

Firms becoming more transparent in financial statements

The use of the document verification system (DVS) has increased in Bangladesh in the last couple of years, plugging the scope for unruly firms to submit forged audit reports. The number of audit reports signed by accountants by securing codes from the DVS rose by nearly 2 percent year-on-year to 38,316 in 2021-22 compared to a year prior, data from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) showed.

1w ago

Rural deposits fall for first time in five years as inflation bites

Banks in Bangladesh witnessed a sharp decline in deposits in rural areas in the last quarter of 2023, the first fall in five years, data from the central bank showed.

1w ago

IMF suggests raising tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakh

The International Monetary Fund has suggested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) restructure the personal income tax slabs and increase the tax-free income limit to Tk 5 lakh from the existing Tk 3.5 lakh.

1w ago

Costlier loans hand yet another blow to entrepreneurs

For the past two and a half years, entrepreneurs in Bangladesh have been facing numerous hurdles, beginning from a dollar shortage and a sharp rise in import costs for their escalated rates in global markets and the depreciation of the taka.

2w ago

Women outnumber men in farming sector

More women are joining the agriculture sector in Bangladesh as their job opportunities in industries, especially garment factories, have stagnated and men switch to non-farm sectors amid increased mechanisation of farming activities

3w ago
February 24, 2024
February 24, 2024

Inflation edges up despite monetary tightening. Why?

Bangladesh's annual average inflation crept up to 9.59% last month, way above the central bank's revised target of 7.5% for the financial year ending in June

February 21, 2024
February 21, 2024

MFS transactions grow fourfold in five years

People made Tk 4,100 crore MFS transactions in 2023's December

February 20, 2024
February 20, 2024

M&A transactions amounted to at least $2.5b in 18 years

Bangladesh registered at least $2.5 billion in funding from investors for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of firms since 2005, according to a recent study, which says there is room for growth in terms of M&A in Bangladesh although the volume is modest in comparison with regional counterparts.

February 16, 2024
February 16, 2024

Turkish Coca-Cola Icecek acquires Coca-Cola Bangladesh for $130m 

Turkish beverage company Coca-Cola Icecek (CCI) has signed a deal to acquire Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages Ltd (CCBB) for $130 million.   

February 16, 2024
February 16, 2024

Turkish Coca-Cola Icecek acquires Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages for $130m

Turkish beverage company Coca-Cola Icecek (CCI) has signed a deal to acquire Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages Ltd (CCBB) for $130 million.

February 14, 2024
February 14, 2024

Exports to South Korea tripled in 5 years on duty benefits

Exports from Bangladesh to South Korea nearly tripled over the past five years thanks to duty-free benefits and a push by exporters to explore the world’s 13th largest economy and thereby diversify their export destinations.

February 10, 2024
February 10, 2024

Yields on bills and bonds are rising. What does it mean for credit flow to private sector?

In December last year, the yield of 364-day treasury bills (T-bills) stood at 11.28 percent, the highest in 11 years

January 28, 2024
January 28, 2024

Banks phasing out ATMs as focus shifts to both deposit and withdrawal

Automated teller machines (ATMs) were once a symbol of modern electronic banking for facilitating quick and easy cash withdrawals alongside other banking solutions, including credit card payments and balance confirmation

January 15, 2024
January 15, 2024

Dollar crisis puts small and medium firms on weaker footing

Dollar crisis along with LC opening difficulties is giving small and medium firms no respite

January 7, 2024
January 7, 2024

What does it mean for Bangladesh?

Increase in shipping time and cost is expected as the fallout from Red Sea crisis deepens

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