Sukanta Halder

Sukanta Halder is a staff correspondent of The Daily Star, covering insurance, agriculture, commodity markets, the private sector and consumers.

Govt eases rules to encourage hybrid rice cultivation

The interim government of Bangladesh recently introduced updated rules for the evaluation and registration of hybrid rice, aiming to encourage the cultivation of more varieties, strengthen agricultural innovation, and ensure food security.

4d ago

Precision farming can raise yields by 25%

Bangladesh can boost crop yields by at least 25 percent through the adoption of modern technology in a cultivation method known as “precision agriculture”, according to a Dutch environmental and soil scientist.

1w ago

Potato exports hit 3-year high as local prices tumble

Potato exports climbed to a three-year high in the recently concluded fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, as traders took advantage of a slump in domestic prices to increase shipments abroad.

2w ago

Potato prices rise, bringing slight relief to farmers

Prices of potatoes have begun to rise after months, adding slight pressure on consumers struggling with high inflation but also bringing relief to farmers reeling from losses.

2w ago

Govt to import four lakh tonnes of rice

The government yesterday decided to import 4 lakh tonnes of rice in its efforts to curb the spike in prices of the staple and build adequate stocks in advance so that it can intervene in the market in case of volatility originating from crop losses due to natural disasters like floods in the coming months.

2w ago

Middlemen, extortion push up vegetable prices: report

The dominance of middlemen, a lack of information, extortion, and unpredictable transportation costs have a significant impact, resulting in the high retail prices of vegetables, according to a recent Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) report.

3w ago

Insurance claim settlements nosedive in Jan-Mar

Insurance claim settlements in the country took a nosedive in the first quarter of 2025, exposing the fragile state of insurers marred by cash shortages, irregularities and corruption.

3w ago

Vegetable growers fear losses as rain floods fields

Non-stop rainfall since Tuesday has left large swathes of farmland under water, causing concern among vegetable growers across the country.

3w ago
August 1, 2025
August 1, 2025

Govt eases rules to encourage hybrid rice cultivation

The interim government of Bangladesh recently introduced updated rules for the evaluation and registration of hybrid rice, aiming to encourage the cultivation of more varieties, strengthen agricultural innovation, and ensure food security.

July 23, 2025
July 23, 2025

Precision farming can raise yields by 25%

Bangladesh can boost crop yields by at least 25 percent through the adoption of modern technology in a cultivation method known as “precision agriculture”, according to a Dutch environmental and soil scientist.

July 21, 2025
July 21, 2025

Potato exports hit 3-year high as local prices tumble

Potato exports climbed to a three-year high in the recently concluded fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, as traders took advantage of a slump in domestic prices to increase shipments abroad.

July 16, 2025
July 16, 2025

Govt to import four lakh tonnes of rice

The government yesterday decided to import 4 lakh tonnes of rice in its efforts to curb the spike in prices of the staple and build adequate stocks in advance so that it can intervene in the market in case of volatility originating from crop losses due to natural disasters like floods in the coming months.

July 16, 2025
July 16, 2025

Potato prices rise, bringing slight relief to farmers

Prices of potatoes have begun to rise after months, adding slight pressure on consumers struggling with high inflation but also bringing relief to farmers reeling from losses.

July 15, 2025
July 15, 2025

Middlemen, extortion push up vegetable prices: report

The dominance of middlemen, a lack of information, extortion, and unpredictable transportation costs have a significant impact, resulting in the high retail prices of vegetables, according to a recent Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) report.

July 11, 2025
July 11, 2025

Insurance claim settlements nosedive in Jan-Mar

Insurance claim settlements in the country took a nosedive in the first quarter of 2025, exposing the fragile state of insurers marred by cash shortages, irregularities and corruption.

July 10, 2025
July 10, 2025

Vegetable growers fear losses as rain floods fields

Non-stop rainfall since Tuesday has left large swathes of farmland under water, causing concern among vegetable growers across the country.

July 6, 2025
July 6, 2025

Islamic banks’ deposit, investment growth slows to 4-year low

Deposit and investment growth in the country’s Islamic banks fell to a four-year low in the first quarter of 2025, apparently driven by rising public concerns over the financial stability and governance practices of the commercial lenders.

July 2, 2025
July 2, 2025

Rice prices rise defying Boro supply, imports

Rice prices have increased by Tk 3 to Tk 5 per kilogramme across all categories over the past month, despite the recent Boro harvest and continuing imports of the staple grain.