Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The BBN (Bangladesh Business News) has prepared the morning business round up compiling reports, published by different newspapers and news portals in Bangladesh.

Dhaka to take more time to finalise SOP
Dhaka would take more time to finalise the standard operating procedure to allow transshipment of goods from one part of India to other parts through the country’s Chittagong and Mongla ports. Officials said an inter-ministerial meeting on Sunday at shipping ministry failed to finalise the much needed SOP due to reservations of stakeholders including the National Board of Revenue.

Govt mulls $2b power bonds
The government plans to raise $2 billion through issuing bonds to bankroll investment in the power and energy sector, Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, said yesterday. “I am trying to float an energy power bond at least for $2 billion,” he said at a dislogue at the Khazana Gardenia Grand Hall in the capital’s Gulshan.

Next budget to be pro-growth: Kamal
Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal said on Sunday the budget for the next fiscal year (FY) would be pro-growth and pro-development. He also said employment generation would get priority in the budget, and steps would be taken to provide job to at least one person of each family.

Experts fear more pressure on USD in the coming days
The taka is going to weaken against the dollar, owing to a volatile foreign currency market. The interbank exchange rate stood at Tk84.15 per dollar yesterday from Tk83.90 in January this year, which was Tk82.96 last year, according to Bangladesh Bank latest data.

DSEX crosses 5,700-mark
Stocks posted a marginal gain Sunday as some investors showed their buying appetite on sector specific issues. However, trading activities dipped to a fresh two-and-a-half months low to Tk 4.62 billion as institutional investors followed ‘go slow’ strategy ahead of earnings and dividend declaration of financial sectors.

Cruise test run on March 29
Passenger and cruise vessel services between Bangladesh and India are expected to begin from March 29, opening new horizons for cross-border tourism, said officials. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and an Indian operator aim to join hands in relaunching a route for travellers left unused for decades.

Exports to US soar by 18pc in July-Feb on US-China trade war
The country’s export earnings from the United States in the July-February period of the current financial year (2018-2019) increased by 17.78 per cent to $4.59 billion from $3.90 billion in the same period of FY 2017-18 as buyers shifted orders for readymade garment products from China to Bangladesh due to the ongoing US-China trade war.

Women entrepreneurs seek more bank loans
Khaleda Sultana, founder and managing director of “Jutemar,” produces various jute products for the local market and export. United Commercial Bank helped her with a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) loan of Tk6 lakh. But now, Khaleda needs more money to expand her business.

BBN/SSR/AD