Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The Bangladesh Business News – BBN –has prepared the morning news highlights compiling reports, published by different newspapers and news portals in Bangladesh.
Bus firebombed in Bangladesh again, 6 killed
At least six persons including two children were burnt to death as miscreants firebombed a bus full of sleeping passengers in northern Bangladesh Friday night.
With the death, the spiralling political unrest aimed at toppling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed the lives of 61 mostly innocent people.
At least 30 passengers were also injured in the attack in Tulshighat of Gaibandha district. Of the injured the condition of 15 was stated to be critical.
Taxpayers to be under 'third-party' watch
Government's revenue authority plans to introduce a new 'third-party information system' to crosscheck taxpayers' furnished information against their financial transactions. The mechanism being devised by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is meant for checking tax evasion, officials said. Under the system, selected agencies would put up information on purchase of land, cars or other large financial transactions by people to help the tax authorities match those with the tax returns.
Saudi delegation due tomorrow
A high-profile Saudi Arabian delegation will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow to discuss the procedure for recruiting workers from Bangladesh.
“The team will sit with the expatriates' welfare minister and the bodies concerned [with manpower export] during their stay in Dhaka,” Sarwar Alam, counsellor (labour wing) at Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh, told The Daily Star over the phone yesterday. Ahmed F Alfahaid, deputy minister for international affairs of the Saudi labour ministry, will lead the delegation which would leave on February 11.
Pvt sector credit growth misses target in H1
The country’s private sector credit growth stood at 13.50 per cent in the first half of the current financial year 2014-15, lower than the Bangladesh Bank’s target of 14 per cent, amid dull business. The businesspeople were reluctant to expand their business by taking bank loans due to political unrest and uncertainty, Bangladesh Bank officials said. According to BB data released on Thursday, the credit growth rate in the private sector stood at 13.50 per cent in December of the FY15 against 10.59 per cent in the corresponding period of the FY14. Credit flow to the private sector stood at Tk 5,43,407.20 crore as of December 2014 against Tk 4,78,766.60 crore as of December 2014. It was Tk 4,32,892.20 crore as of December 2013.
US urges Bangladesh to refrain from violence
Deploring the ongoing violence and killing in Bangladesh, the US urged all political parties to refrainfrom violence. The US also urged the Bangladesh government to create an atmosphere so that the political arena remains peaceful and smooth. Marie Harf, the spokesperson of the US State Department, came with the condemnation and expectation when recent political turmoil took the lives of 54 people in Bangladesh. “We call on the government to provide the necessary space for peaceful political activity, and for all parties to instruct their members to refrain from violence,” Harf said in a press statement published on February 5.
Money supply to economy slows down
The growth of broad -money in the economy declined substantially to 13.35 per cent by official count, as of December last, over the corresponding period a year earlier for diversion by various means. Such a situation came clear in the latest data issued by the central bank of Bangladesh Thursday -- giving analysts food for thought on the country's economic health.
Weekly Stock Market Review: Bangladesh’s stock slumps for four week in a row
Bangladesh’s stocks extended their losing streak for the fourth week in a row amid volatility as investors’ confidence remained shaky amid lingering political strife.
The week featured five trading sessions as usual. Of them, prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) slumped 105.61 points in the first two sessions while last three sessions recovered 66.6 points. Week-on-week, DSEX, the prime index of the DSE, came down below the 4,700-mark and ended the week at 4,685.04 points, shedding 39.01 points or 0.83 percent.
BBN/SSR/AD-07Feb15-8:23 am (BST)