Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The BBN has prepared the morning business round up compiling reports, published by different newspapers and news portals in Bangladesh.
Govt wants partial waiver of ADB conditionality
The government has sought partial waiver of the policy condition tagged by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the release of an aid installment after it missed the deadline for enacting a new customs law. As per ADB's major policy condition, the government was to frame, finalise and get the Customs Act 2014 through parliament by November 30. For failing to do it, the lending tranche is destined to lapse as its tenure is up to the yearend and the time runs out fast.
EU business council in B’desh soon
European Union will establish a business council in Bangladesh in a bid to expand and strengthen economic and trade relations between the country and the region, EU ambassador and head of EU delegation to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon told reporters on Tuesday. After a view exchange meeting with commerce minister Tofail Ahmed at the ministry, he said that the proposed council would work to identify the cross-cutting issues, areas of cooperation and difficulties in trade and economic relationship between the two sides. It will also find out the ways and means to overcome the obstacles and difficulties in this connection, he added.
Poor women to get cash handouts
The government is set to take up a cash handout programme for poor women, to be financed by the World Bank, to ensure proper nutrition for their children and better health for them. The programme will be run in the seven most poverty-prone districts; pregnant women and women with children below the age of five will receive Tk 200 to Tk 1,000 every quarter.
Bangladesh’s inward remittance jumps by 15% in Nov
The flow of inward remittances jumped by nearly 15 per cent in November last after showing a downward trend in the previous month because of the celebration of Eid-ul-Azha festival, officials said. The remittances from Bangladeshi nationals working abroad were estimated at $1.17 billion in November 2014, up by $14.70 per cent from the level of the previous month. In October last, the remittance stood at $1.02 billion, according to the central bank statistics, released on Tuesday.
Call rates remain unchanged, BDT depreciates against US$ further
The call money rate remained unchanged on Tuesday while Bangladesh Taka (BDT) depreciated further against the US dollar in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, officials said. The call rate ranged between 5.75 per cent and 8.50 per cent on the day unchanged from the previous level. But most of the deals were made at rates between 6.50 per cent and 7.25 per cent on the day, market operators said. On the other hand, the banks quoted the dollar signal rate at BDT 77.72-BDT77.77 on the day against BDT 77.72 of the previous level.
Bangladesh Bank sells $20m more to two banks
The central bank of Bangladesh has continued its foreign exchange support through selling the US dollar directly to the banks for settlement of import payment obligations. As part of the move, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) sold US$20 million more at market rate to two commercial banks Tuesday to meet the growing demand for the greenback, officials said. The banks are Pubali Bank Limited and Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited.
New chairman appointed to Janata Bank
Shaikh Md Wahid-uz-Zaman, outgoing principal secretary to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), has been appointed chairman of state-owned Janata Bank. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed Zaman's appointment letter yesterday, a PMO official preferring anonymity told The Daily Star.
BBN/SSR/AD-03Dec14-8:18 am (BST)