Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The BBN has prepared the morning business round up compiling reports, published by different newspapers and news portals in Bangladesh.
Strike halts unloading of goods in Ctg
Unloading of goods came to a halt at 16 private jetties on the bank of Karnaphuli river since yesterday, as the workers went on a work abstention on nine-point demands, including 50 percent increase of their wages. At least 66 lighter vessels, including 16 anchored at the jetties, remained idle at Banglabazar and Majhirghat areas due to the protest, said Ataul Karim, an official of the Water Transport Cell, a private organisation that coordinates lighter vessels.
Greater dependence on external sources sought
The government has approved the maiden debt strategy with a paradigm shift in the pattern followed for borrowing resources to finance the budget deficits. Under the strategy the government will have the option to borrow from the external sources 60 per cent of resources needed for deficit financing. Currently, Bangladesh borrows around 60 per cent of resources from the domestic sources.
Bangladesh’s stocks close flat amid weak sentiment
Bangladesh’s stocks ended flat on Sunday amid choppy trading with turnover hitting fresh four and a half months low as investors mostly inactive amid lack of any clear direction. The market opened with a positive mood, but could not sustain amid volatility. DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), went down by 3.12 points or 0.06 percent to close at 4,769.42 points.
BASIC’s one in four borrowers traceless
At least one in four who borrowed from state-run BASIC Bank in last five years are traceless, said officials. The newly appointed directors of the board of the beleaguered Bangladesh Small Industries and Commerce Bank Limited found no trace of the borrowers, they said. Officials said that the loans were extended to fictitious borrowers possibly for the benefit of yet to be identified individuals. They said that this happened due to gross irregularities in approving loans by the immediate past board of directors led by former BASIC chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye.
Imports grow over 11pc in 4 months
The country made higher import of petroleum products and capital machinery in the first four months of the current fiscal year (FY), as the overall imports grew over 11per cent during the period. Officials said the actual import in terms of settlement of letters of credit (LC) increased by 11.10 per cent to US$12.94 billion during the July-October period of the FY 2014-15 from $11.65 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. According to the central bank statistics, released Sunday, the opening of LCs, generally known as import orders, marked a 12.01 per cent rise to $ 13.98 billion. The total LC worth was $12.48 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal.
TI to help ensure transparency in garment sector
Transparency International will launch a tripartite panel within next year that will ensure accountability and transparency in the garment sector, said a senior official of its Bangladesh chapter. “If everything goes right, we will be able to come up with the Garment Industries Transparency Initiative in Bangladesh and Myanmar by next year,” said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). “Before the programme kicks off formally, we will hold a regional conference early next year and an international one at the end of the year -- both in Dhaka,” he said in an interview with The Daily Star.
Buyer groups promoting certain fire door vendors
Garment factory owners have alleged that in the name of ensuring fire and structural safety in the country’s apparel units the two platforms of North American and European buyers — Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety and Accord on Fire and Building Safety — are promoting certain vendors and firms. Recently a number of garment factory owners have complained to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association that they have been asked by Accord and Alliance to install safety equipments from particular vendors and to conduct detailed engineering assessment of factory buildings by certain firms.
BBN/SSR/AD-01Dec14-10:22 am (BST)