Sukanta Halder

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

Hunt for OMS food grows desperate

In the bustling area of Mirpur-10 in the capital, over 300 people gathered early Monday morning, hoping to buy subsidised essentialsthat serve as a lifeline for low-income families.

12h ago

277 firms allowed to import 14.81 lakh tonnes of rice

The interim government of Bangladesh has allowed 277 private entities to import 14.81 lakh tonnes of rice as it looks to contain domestic prices of the staple grain by increasing stocks..Of the total, 10.65 lakh tonnes will be boiled rice while the rest will be sunned rice, according to do

17h ago

SMEs bear the full brunt of financial hardship

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh are struggling due to political uncertainty, high inflation and rising interest rates on bank loans, according to entrepreneurs.

3d ago

Food prices stubbornly high despite govt measures

When prices of widely consumed staples like potatoes, edible oil, sugar or onions spike and remain inflated for extended periods, it understandably hits the poor and low-income people where it hurts the most: in their wallet.

6d ago

Competitive prices lift tea exports to seven-year high

Bangladesh’s tea exports have hit the highest mark in the last seven years as competitive pricing provided an edge over major exporters like India and Sri Lanka.

1w ago

Life insurers mired in irregularities

One-fourth of the life insurance firms in the country are plagued with financial irregularities and mismanagement that have put the entire industry in danger.

1w ago

Potato prices jump as supplies shrink

Consumers in Bangladesh have been paying more for potatoes over the past week, with supplies of the tuber harvested in the previous season running low as the new season approaches..Additionally, the high profiteering tendency among a section of people in the supply chain is dealing a furth

2w ago

AL govt put finance adviser, BB governor in legal trouble

The immediate past Awami League government’s failure to settle an international arbitration claim has left Bangladesh in a legal tangle in the US, leading to a surprise judicial order against two top officials of the interim government during their official visit to Washington last week.

3w ago
October 25, 2024
October 25, 2024

Traders reluctant to import rice despite tariff cuts

Rice traders in Bangladesh are less interested in importing the grain despite the recent slash in related tariffs as they do not believe there is enough of a profit margin because of high prices on the international market.

October 23, 2024
October 23, 2024

SMEs hit hard by August floods need govt assistance to survive

Most SMEs lost all of their belongings and now seek government assistance

October 22, 2024
October 22, 2024

Half of banks’ CSR spending went to disaster management

Of their total corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure, banks spent 45 percent on disaster management violating rules in the first half of 2024, with bankers saying it mainly went to various funds maintained by the Prime Minister’s Office before the political changeover on August 5.

October 21, 2024
October 21, 2024

Restaurants face sluggish sales as diners tighten belt

When Sheuly Akhter and her friend entered a branch of Star Kabab in Dhanmondi on Thursday last week, marking their return to the establishment for the first time in nearly four months, they were surprised by the lack of customers.

October 15, 2024
October 15, 2024

Egg supplies take a hit

The Tejgaon Egg Merchants’ Association, which delivers about 15 percent of the daily supply of 1 crore eggs in the capital, stopped sales from Sunday night claiming it was to avoid harassment by the government authorities.

October 13, 2024
October 13, 2024

Puja brings little cheer to sweet shops

Sweets makers in Dhaka have found little reason to cheer during the ongoing Durga Puja festivities as chain stores reported that sales have not grown due to security concerns weighing on the minds of devotees.

October 12, 2024
October 12, 2024

Of Hilsa and its hunters

On the corner of a crowded and noisy floor, a bespectacled man was calling out bids for a basket of Hilsa fish. He repeated the prices quoted by traders in a loud, rhythmic tone: “1,400-1,420-1,450…”

October 8, 2024
October 8, 2024

Tk 353cr anomalies found at Sonali Life Insurance

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has discovered anomalies worth Tk 353 crore at Sonali Life Insurance Company, accusing its former chairman Mostafa Golam Quddus and his family members of irregularities, fraud, and money laundering.

October 6, 2024
October 6, 2024

Prices of essentials: Rains, supply dearth cause spike

The prices of rice, eggs, broiler chicken, soybean oil, palm oil, sugar and vegetables have increased significantly in Dhaka due to a supply shortage and incessant rain.

October 4, 2024
October 4, 2024

Why are chicken and egg prices nowhere near govt rates?

Prices of eggs and broiler chicken, two major sources of protein, prevailing in Dhaka’s markets have long surpassed rates set by the interim government in September, putting pressure on consumers plagued with persistently high inflation.