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TT-Clean: 77.1 | TK BC-Selling: 78.1
TK OD-Sight: 76.88 TK | TC-Selling: 78.1 TK

TT-Clean: 77.1 | TK BC-Selling: 78.1
TK OD-Sight: 76.88 TK | TC-Selling: 78.1 TK

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TT-Clean: 77.1 | TK BC-Selling: 78.1
TK OD-Sight: 76.88 TK | TC-Selling: 78.1 TK

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Rate last updated: 02/01/2014 11:15:04 AM

Important Business News Extracts April 23, 2018

Strong judiciary support a must to speed up recovery process of classified loans: ABB chief tells FE

Country’s banking sector has sought strong judiciary support to speed up recovery process of classified loans, saying that it would also help improving financial health and growth of the banks. “We need a separate bench under the High Court to deal with only default loan issues,” Syed Mahbubur Rahman, chairman of the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB), told the FE in an exclusive interview recently. The ABB chief also said the functions of Artha Rin Adalats (Money Loan Courts) should be strengthened across the country for settling the cases within the shortest possible time-frame. “We understand law has certain limitations and procedures to maintain, but it takes about eight to nine years to settle a case. This encourages defaulters to take the legal routes instead of coming to bank for negotiation,” Mr. Rahman explained. The ABB chairman’s observations came against the backdrop of rising trend of money suits pending with different courts, including Money Loan Courts, as the defaulters resort to different byways.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/strong-judiciary-support-a-must-to-speed-up-recovery-process-of-classified-loans-1524419454

SCB keen on infrastructure financing under China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Standard Chartered Bangladesh will extend financing support to implement infrastructural projects under the Belt and Road Initiative of the Chinese government. The BRI is a development strategy proposed by the Chinese government that focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries. Gas- and coal-based power plants, rail link and road-related infrastructure will be boosted under the BRI, where the SCB can play a major role in implementing the projects. “China is the largest trading partner of Bangladesh and it was also the biggest supplier in the globe,” said Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of SCB. Bijoy’s comments came in a media session organised by SCB styled ‘Belt and Road – China-Bangladesh Opportunities’ at the capital’s Westin hotel.

Source:
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/scb-keen-infrastructure-financing-under-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-1566319
http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/country-needs-roadmap-to-cut-corporate-tax-to-bag-more-fdi-1524418645

Mutual funds pique investors in March

The closed-end mutual fund units saw their turnover double last month upon expectation of better dividends for the year ending on June. Closed-end mutual funds are investment funds that gather a fixed pool of money for 10 years from a number of investors and re-invest them into stocks, bonds and other assets. Their shares trade like stocks. In March, closed-end mutual funds’ turnover stood at Tk 164.25 crore in contrast to Tk 74.84 crore a month earlier, according to data from the Dhaka Stock Exchange. However, total turnover in the DSE declined 10.73 percent during the period. “Some of these funds will be liquidated soon, and they are trading at a discount, so investors are rushing to buy their units,” said Sherif MA Rahman, chief executive officer of Brac EPL Securities.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/mutual-funds-pique-investors-march-1566331

From LDCs to Asian tiger

Bangladesh has become eligible to move out of the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to a developing nation. With time and good governance, the country might be the new Asian tiger. Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan are known as “Asian tigers” because of their rapid growth between the 1960s and 1990s. Bangladesh might be the fifth Asian tiger, as the country is experiencing rapid economic growth (more than 6%) over the past decade. The growth pattern of Bangladesh is similar to the four Asian tigers during the industrialization of their economies. Amongst the four Asian tiger economies, manufacturing sector has had a significant contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).

Source: https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/04/22/ldcs-asian-tiger/

FBCCI urges govt to include tourism policy in next budget

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urged Sunday the government to incorporate a time-befitting tourism policy in the upcoming national budget to help the sector flourish. Considering the existing potential, it also emphasised the development of transport and infrastructure facilities of tourist spots in the country, aiming to draw more local and foreign tourists. Underscoring the need for branding Bangladesh, the apex trade body also suggested highlighting the success stories of the country. The call came at the standing committee meeting of the FBCCI relating to the ministry of civil aviation and tourism held in its boardroom. Director in-charge of the standing committee Prabir Kumar Saha presented a detailed future plan at the meeting presided over by its chairman Md Rafiuzzaman. FBCCI president Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) said great success in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector along with other positive stories and potentials of the country should be reflected to the world community for attracting more tourists. The meeting decided to hold a seminar on development of this sector in presence of the civil aviation and tourism minister.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/fbcci-urges-govt-to-include-tourism-policy-in-next-budget-1524413764

Public entities’ DSLs keep on swelling, cross Tk 1.0t mark

Debt service liabilities (DSLs) of state-owned entities, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies soared to Tk 1.02 trillion at the end of the last fiscal year (FY) 2016-17, according to official statistics. The amount of DSL comprises both principal and interest. The aggregate amount of principal and interest overdue stood at over Tk 869.91 billion at the end of FY 2015-2016, the official data available with the ministry of finance showed. Total outstanding amount, including both overdue and current amount, stood at Tk 2.13 trillion as of June 30, 2017. The figure was Tk 2.03 trillion at the end of June, 2016. The debt-burden of these organisations includes the funds that the government borrowed for them from foreign development partners against projects and the local currency loans.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/public-entities-dsls-keep-on-swelling-cross-tk-10t-mark-1524418587

Plea for 10-year tax holiday for relocated tannery factories

Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) urged on Sunday the revenue authority to declare tax holiday for next seven to ten years for tannery factories that have been relocated to the Savar Tannery Estate. They also proposed the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to slash value added tax (VAT) rate from 15 per cent to 7.5 per cent on imported chemicals used in export-oriented leather industry in the next budget for fiscal year (FY) 2018-2019. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Agro-Processors’ Association (BAPA) proposed NBR to continue cash subsidy on export of agro products till 2022 by increasing the rate from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. The demands were made at a pre-budget meeting with businesses from agro-processing, poultry, chemical, leather and jewellery sectors arranged by NBR at its headquarters in the city’s Segunbagicha.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/plea-for-10-year-tax-holiday-for-relocated-tannery-factories-1524418770

NBR to introduce multiple advance income tax rates at import stage

The National Board of Revenue is going to introduce multiple rates of advance income tax at import stage to make it rational for different sectors, the tax authority chief Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan on Sunday said. ‘There will be product-wise AIT rates and the rates will vary like value-added tax rates,’ he said at a pre-budget discussion with agriculture, poultry, chemicals, paints and leather sectors at NBR headquarters in Dhaka. The rates of AIT should not be uniform for all products, he added. He also announced that there would be specific benefit in taxes for overall agriculture related sectors, namely agro-processors, poultry, seed and bakery. The proposals put forward by the sectors seeking benefits in tax, VAT and customs duty were justified, he added. NBR might reduce VAT rate on hand-made bread and biscuits, he said.

Source: http://www.newagebd.net/article/39636/nbr-to-introduce-multiple-advance-income-tax-rates-at-import-stage

Next budget to earmark Tk 1.0b for women entrepreneurs: NBR

A net amount of Tk one billion (Tk 100 crore) will be earmarked for women entrepreneurs in the upcoming budget as in the current fiscal year. At the same time, the government will further ease the rules of using this money for their business expansion. Chairman of the National Board of Revenue Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan disclosed this at a pre-budget meeting with the Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Hotel Agrabad in the city on Saturday. He said that women entrepreneurs are more serious in paying back their bank loans than their male counterparts. In the beginning of the meeting, CWCCI president Monowara Hakim Ali placed a number of proposals which, she said, would ensure greater participation of women investors, especially in the SME (small and medium enterprises) sector.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/next-budget-to-earmark-tk-10b-for-women-entrepreneurs-nbr-1524414014

BEZA, SPCL sign deal to build LPG terminal: 410 acres of Moheshkhali EZ land for the facility

SPL Petrochemical Complex Limited (SPCL) will build a petrochemical production base and a large LPG terminal in Moheskhali Economic Zone (EZ) under Cox’s Bazar. SPCL, a concern of TK Group, signed a land lease agreement on Sunday with Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), the country’s prime investment promoter, to implement the venture. SPCL handed over a dummy cheque worth Tk 1.78 billion to BEZA as lease money on the occasion. The company has already formed a joint venture with South Korea-based global petrochemical giant SK Gas to avail its knowhow and expertise in setting up the LPG terminal at Dhalghata in Moheskhali EZ. According to the plan, the company will build petrochemical refinery, warehouse of petrochemical products and LPG terminal. Modern jetty facility will also be installed there for loading and unloading raw materials and products etc.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/beza-spcl-sign-deal-to-build-lpg-terminal-1524419631

BIDA-DBCCI trade team holds B2B meetings in Brussels

The BIDA-DBCCI Trade and Investment delegation kick-started their first leg of the programme by holding a seminar and B2B meetings at the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) in Brussels, says a statement. The seminar was held with the support of EIAS and Bangladesh Embassy in Belgium, which was followed up by B2B meetings between Bangladeshi businessmen and their Belgian counterparts recently. The trade delegation comprises 50 participants representing BEZA, PPP, ministries of water, commerce, shipping and other government organisations and a select group of renowned private businesses. Alexander Spachis, member of the Advisory board, EIAS, chaired the seminar.

Source: http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/bida-dbcci-trade-team-holds-b2b-meetings-in-brussels-1524413898

MoU on April 28 to get Chinese loan for Padma Bridge rail link project
Under the MoU to be signed in Beijing, the Exim Bank of China will give financial support to the project, said Railways Minister Md Mujibul Haque, addressing a seminar on ‘Policy Analysis’ at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM) auditorium in city’s Agargaon, said an official release. Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Abu Hena Md Razi Hasan and Additional Secretary of Public Administration Md Moazzem Hoassain addressed the seminar as special guests with AB Mirza Azizul Islam in the chair. Mujibul Haque said the government has taken different initiatives to bring the whole country under rail network.

Source: http://www.theindependentbd.com/post/147000

Bangladesh still popular for low-cost apparel

Bangladesh is still a lucrative destination for sourcing low-cost garment items, coming second to only China, according to the Global Sourcing Survey-2018 by the AsiaInspection, which provides inspection services to global brands. “Outside of China, India and Bangladesh are increasingly given preferences for textile sourcing due to being lower-cost destinations,” said the report on the survey conducted by AI in December last year. Top officials of more than 250 companies working in all major consumer product segments were interviewed for the survey. Of the total respondents, 16 percent said Bangladesh is their destination of choice for sourcing textile and garment products. China though remains in the lead: it is a regular sourcing destination for nearly 88 percent of the respondents and half of the businesses expect to buy even more from there in 2018.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/bangladesh-still-popular-low-cost-apparel-1566334

Number of women SME entrepreneurs on the rise

The SME Foundation and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) jointly organized the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Fair-2018 for the sixth time in the capital. At the National SME Fair 2018, held April 4 to April 8, the participation of women entrepreneurs was higher than men. Of 268 participants, 183, i.e. 68%, were women. The SME Foundation organized this fair for the first time in 2012. At that time, a total of 85 entrepreneurs set up 100 stalls at the fair. Of them, 56 were women while 29 were men. Official data revealed the participation of women entrepreneurs at the SME fair was 56% in 2013, 74% in 2014, 66% in 2016, and 61.5% in 2017. Managing Director of the SME Foundation, M Safiqul Islam, said a large number of women entrepreneurs participate in the national SME fair every year as a new class of women entrepreneurs has developed in the country’s SME sector.

Source: https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/04/22/number-women-sme-entrepreneurs-rise/

High tax bar to better telecom service: GSMA

The national exchequer gets Tk 51 of every Tk 100 spent by a mobile user, leaving less money for the operators to develop network and run business smoothly, the GSMA said yesterday. Bangladesh’s mobile industry has one of the world’s highest taxation rates while operators’ monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) is one of the lowest, less than $3, the association said. The Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with over 300 companies, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies and organisations in adjacent industry sectors. “Low ARPU, high tax and high spectrum charge cannot give you quality of service,” Emanuela Lecchi, head of Asia Pacific of GSMA, said at a press conference in Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.

Source:
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/telecom/high-tax-bar-better-telecom-service-gsma-1566316
http://www.newagebd.net/article/39633/higher-spectrum-prices-taxes-barrier-to-quality-service-telcos

BTRC asks Robi to stop tariff approval, issuing NOC

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has asked mobile phone operator Robi Axiata to stop providing tariff approval and issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) unless it pays the arrear VAT worth Tk 189 million by April 25. The telecom regulator, in a letter to the chief executive officer of Robi, instructed the company to comply with the government’s order to avoid legal actions. Robi owes the VAT to National Board of Revenue (NBR) on account of 4G/LTE licence acquisition fee and technology neutrality. According to an order of NBR, the telecom regulator should not activate the issued or renewed licence in favour of the mobile phone company unless it deducts and deposits the due VAT, on account of 4G licence or technology neutrality fee, spectrum fee, royalty or licence renewal fee, to the public exchequer.

Source:
http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/btrc-asks-robi-to-stop-tariff-approval-issuing-noc-1524419342
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/telecom/robi-asked-pay-tk-1893cr-vat-4g-licence-fee-1566328
http://www.theindependentbd.com/post/146863
http://www.newagebd.net/article/39632/btrc-warns-robi-of-non-coop-over-tk-19cr-due-vat

Grameenphone (GP), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Q1 earnings slide

Some 12 more listed companies, including the largest-market cap company Grameenphone (GP), disclosed un-audited financial reports for the January-March quarter of 2018 on Sunday. Of them, the earnings per share (EPS) of seven companies, including GP and GlaxoSmithKline Bangladesh, declined while five companies’ earnings increased in the quarter compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Grameenphone’s net profit fell slightly by 2.50% year-on-year to BDT 6.39 billion in the January-March quarter of 2018. GP’s earnings per share (EPS) declined to BDT 4.74 in January-March quarter from BDT 4.86 in the same period a year ago. The net operating cash flow per share (NOCFPS) was BDT 11.60 for January-March 2018 as against BDT 12.04 for January-March 2017. The net asset value (NAV) per share was BDT 32.73 as on March 31, 2018 and BDT. 29.72 as on March 31, 2017. Following the news, the GP’s share price fell 2.42% or BDT 12 each to close at BDT 484.10 on Sunday. However, Grameenphone Ltd. reported revenue of BDT 31.2 billion for the first quarter of 2018, a 2.0% growth from the same period last year. Data revenue grew by 23.9% along with voice revenue growth of 3.9%. CEO of Grameenphone Ltd. Said that the quarter also marked healthy topline and subscriber growth amidst the ongoing competitive environment. They launched a couple of relevant market offers both in voice and data that is showing positive results in revenue generating base and its corresponding usage. Meanwhile, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Bangladesh’s earnings per share fell 21.62% year-on-year to BDT 11.49 for January-March, 2018. In January-March period of 2017, its EPS was BDT 14.66. The world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare company’s share price also declined by 0.83% to close at BDT 1,456.70 each at DSE.

Source:
http://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock-corporate/gp-gsk-q1-earnings-slide-1524413064
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/gps-first-quarter-profit-down-248pc-1566325
https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/04/22/grameenphone-ltd-reported-revenue-BDT31-2-bn/

Local and Global Stock Indices *

Index NameClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
DSEX5,813.29↓30.18↓0.52%
DJIA24,462.94↓201.95↓0.82%
FTSE1007,368.17↑39.25↑0.54%
Nikkei 22522,086.65↓75.59↓0.34%

World Commodities *

CommodityClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
Crude Oil (WTI)$ 68.18↓0.22↓0.32%
Crude Oil (Brent)$ 73.92↓0.14↓0.19%
Gold Spot$ 1,333.88↓2.48↓0.19%

Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days *

Exchange Rates
USD 1BDT 83.50
GBP 1BDT 117.08
EUR 1BDT 102.52
INR 1BDT 1.26

*CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES ARE TAKEN FROM BLOOMBERG.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM

EMRANUL HUQ

MANAGING DIRECTOR & CEO OF DHAKA BANK LIMITED

Dear Valued Patrons,

At the very onset, let me express my heartiest gratitude for allowing us to serve you and I also wanted to reach out to you directly with an assurance that Dhaka Bank is fully equipped to support you during this difficult time.

Last couple of weeks ago we all were living in a peaceful condition, performing our daily tasks freely and perfectly. Entire economy and business environment was also in a good shape, until COVID-19 put a forceful stoppage to the overall life style and economy of the world. We all know that social distancing and cleanliness are the keys to prevent this pandemic. Hence, we urge your conscious effort to limiting public interaction and suspending wherever possible.

YOUR SAFETY MEANS EVERYTHING TO US
In this current situation, Dhaka Bank and its employees are beside you where we are fully online, either working from home or at our offices under a robust Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to serve you with limited branch banking and a full-fledged alternate delivery channel services.

WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR BANKING NEEDS
Our state of the art Mobile App, Dhaka Bank GO (Click https://bit.ly/2WVfieu) and Internet Banking - Dhaka Bank Direct gives you the freedom of banking online anytime from anywhere. You can check the balance and transfer money to any designated Banks including any Dhaka Bank or bKash Account, make utility bill payments and mobile top-up through our Mobile App and Internet Banking Services. Our ATMs are also running efficiently with availability of sufficient cash for your convenience where you can make cash withdrawals whenever the need arises. Mentionable, the withdrawal of cash from any ATMs within Bangladesh with Dhaka Bank Debit Cards are absolutely free of charges up till April 30, 2020 (Dhaka Bank will bear the cost). Our corporate customers can also use our completely safe and secured online platform Dhaka Bank C-Solution for Payments, Inter Bank Fund Transfers, etc.

Moreover, to fulfill your urgent requirement, we have a limited no. of branches up and running by ensuring all kinds of precautionary and safety measures for you.

GET IN TOUCH IF YOU ARE IN EXTREME EMERGENCY
In case of extreme emergency and facing difficulties in conducting banking transactions, please let us know through our 24/7 Contact Center number 16474 (or, dial +8809678016474 for ISD/Overseas Calls). We are always with you to combat your difficulties.

WE WILL FREQUENTLY UPDATE YOU
As you know we are going through a critical phase and the situation is novel to all of us. We are getting lot of new information from various sources everyday about COVID-19 which will be shared at www.dhakabankltd.com.

Thank you for your trust and continued support to us. I firmly believe that jointly we will be able to combat this situation and win against all the odds.

Please stay home, stay safe and take care of yourself and family.

Best regards,

Emranul Huq
Managing Director & CEO
Dhaka Bank Limited

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