Sohel Parvez

Sohel Parvez is the Business Editor of The Daily Star.

BB unlikely to cut policy rate now

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) is unlikely to reduce the policy or repo rate for the second half of this year as inflation continues to remain stubbornly high, according to the central bank governor.

4d ago

New fiscal year starts on positive note but fault lines remain

Record remittances lift reserves, but economy burdened by sluggish tax, bad loans, high joblessness

1w ago

Govt borrowing from domestic sources surges

Government borrowing from domestic banks and non-bank sources rose 55 percent year-on-year during the July-April period of the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, due mainly to weaker foreign loan disbursements and poor tax collection.

2w ago

Allocation for poverty reduction drops to 4-year low in FY26

Bangladesh’s expenditure on poverty reduction has been gradually declining, and in the upcoming fiscal year of 2025-26, it is set to hit a four-year low due to a decrease in spending that directly impacts hunger.

3w ago

Sovereign guarantee rules to be revised

The government plans to amend the existing sovereign guarantee guidelines to streamline the process and mitigate fiscal risks if public entities fail to make repayments on time, according to a finance ministry report.

3w ago

Value for taxpayers’ money: Why it matters

If you visit the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), you will find it difficult to make your way through the crowded corridors between the wards. Patients lie on narrow, makeshift beds along both sides, while doctors, hospital staff, visitors, and treatment seekers shuffle through the chaos.

1m ago

Bangladesh continues to perform poorly in budget transparency

Bangladesh has continued to showcase a weak performance in the open budget rankings among its South Asian peers, reflecting a lack of transparency and accountability in the formulation and implementation of fiscal measures.

2m ago

Banks see sluggish deposit growth as high inflation weighs on savers

Banks have registered sluggish growth in deposits throughout the current fiscal year as elevated inflation and an economic slowdown have squeezed the scope for many to save, even though the interest rate has risen.

2m ago
August 21, 2023
August 21, 2023

Tariff commission wants zero import duty on onion

The commission writes a letter to the NBR

August 20, 2023
August 20, 2023

Summer onion cultivation expands slowly

Bangladesh is registering a slow spike in the cultivation of onions during summer with the government patronising the expansion to reduce high import dependence during the lean season from October to November.

August 11, 2023
August 11, 2023

A fifth of banks jump on digital bandwagon to power growth

Nearly a fifth of conventional banks in Bangladesh are preparing to establish digital banks to expand their reach to every nook and cranny of the country, win and retain tech-savvy customers without physical presence.

August 6, 2023
August 6, 2023

NRB Bank plans to introduce neo-banking services

NRB Bank is planning and working to onboard digital banking facilities as well as introduce neo-banking services for its customers, according to the top official of the private bank.

August 2, 2023
August 2, 2023

Low rainfall forces farmers to irrigate Aman fields

After 16 percent below normal rainfall in June, Bangladesh saw a drier July as it registered 50.8 percent below normal rain, which forced many farmers to irrigate their fields to cultivate Aman paddy, the second largest rice crop.

July 27, 2023
July 27, 2023

Exports to China fall despite duty benefit

Bangladesh’s export to China fell to its three-year low of $677 million in the last fiscal year as entrepreneurs could not take advantage of the duty benefits extended by Beijing. 

July 25, 2023
July 25, 2023

Public food stock surges to 18-month high

Public food stocks in Bangladesh rocketed to an 18-month high in July thanks to higher procurement, imports of grains and reduced distribution, official figures showed.  

July 24, 2023
July 24, 2023

Citizens Bank aims to become a top lender

Banks are systemically important institutions and corporate governance is vital for them to navigate difficult times and convince depositors to keep money with them.

July 21, 2023
July 21, 2023

El Niño weighs on Bangladesh’s agriculture

Extreme heat has gripped many parts of the world as June saw the warmest global average temperature on record and the trend continued into July, according to the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). 

July 18, 2023
July 18, 2023

Internet banking transactions hit nearly Tk 50,000cr

Internet banking transactions reached a record high amount of nearly Tk 50,000 crore in May, signifying the enhanced cost and time savings and convenience enabled over visits to brick-and-mortar branches for a growing number of bank account holders.