$

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

£

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 March 16, 2020

BD, ADB sign $400m loan deal to develop Elenga-Rangpur highway

The government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Sunday signed a US$ 400 million loan agreement as part of $ 1.2 billion ADB loan commitment to develop a regional corridor in northwestern zone of the country. The assistance is the second tranche of the ADB’s commitment to construct 190-kilometre Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur highway under South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)-II. According to the Roads and Highways Department, the executing agency of the Tk 118.99 billion project, the ADB released $ 300 million earlier in the first tranche while rest $ 500 million is expected to be released in next two instalments. This project is a continuation of the 70-kilometre Joydevpur-Elenga section road development project also funded by ADB since 2012. The feasibility study and detailed design work of Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur highway were done in 2015 and the progress has so far recorded at 15 per cent. ADB has been supporting Bangladesh in improving the Dhaka-Northwest road corridor since approval of the landmark Jamuna Bridge Project in 1994. Road travel accounts for 70 per cent of all passenger traffic and 60 per cent of freight in Bangladesh with a rate of 8 per cent annual traffic increase. Since 2001, SASEC members signed and implemented 55 ADB-financed projects with a regional dimension worth more than $12.5 billion, including 36 projects worth $10.23 billion in transport sector.

Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/bd-adb-sign-400m-loan-deal-to-develop-elenga-rangpur-highway-1584286823

Joules Power to install 3.1MWp rooftop solar unit

Country’s largest solar power producer Joules Power Ltd on Sunday signed a deal to install facilities for generating 3.1-MWp (Mega Watt peak) rooftop solar electricity. The electricity will be generated on 32,886 square metres of rooftop area of several buildings of Robintex Group at Rupganj in Narayanganj district. The project will be implemented within nine months under the ‘Opex model’ – where the builder will invest some US$ 1.7 million. Joules Power managing director Nuher Latif Khan and Robintex director Robin Razon Sakhawat signed the deal on behalf of their respective companies in the capital, says a press release. Officials at Joules Power Ltd said they have a target to produce some 30 megawatt of rooftop solar power by 2021 and “be a market leader”. In September 2018, Joules Power’s 20-megawatt solar power plant started commercial operation in Teknaf.

Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/joules-power-to-install-31mwp-rooftop-solar-unit-1584287356

Dhaka stocks crash to its lowest in five years

Dhaka stocks plunged to its five-year low yesterday amid coronavirus-induced sell-off as fears grew that the fast-spreading disease would hurt both global and local economies and the earnings of listed companies. DSEX, the benchmark index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), lost 160.64 points, or 3.88 per cent, to close the day at 3,969.31 — the lowest since May 4, 2015, when the market ended at 3,959.73. With the slide, the index slipped below the 4,000-mark for the first time in five years. On March 9, DSEX plunged 279.32 points. The value of the stocks shed 7.95 per cent to Tk 311,113 crore in a span of 11 trading days this month. Turnover, another important indicator of the market, dropped 8.7 per cent to Tk 396.9 crore yesterday. On February 10, the central bank announced a package for banks, allowing them to set up funds worth Tk 200 crore each on the back of the financial support. The lenders will take the fund from the central bank through repurchase agreements against treasury bills and bonds owned by them. The banks will have to pay 5 per cent interest for the fund and the credit tenure will be until February 2025.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/dhaka-stocks-crash-its-lowest-five-years-1881439

BD Paints is seeking Tk 20cr to scale up production

BD Paints, a relatively new entrant to the Bangladesh’s paint landscape, plans to raise Tk 20 crore from the capital market in order to ramp up its production capacity — even though about 60 per cent of its existing capacity remains unutilised. The disclosure, which was pulled from the company’s initial public offering prospectus submitted to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in March 20 last year, raises questions about the necessity of the funds — and the paint manufacturer’s debut on the bourse. In its IPO prospectus, which is available on the website of BD Paints, the decorative and industrial paint manufacturer said the industry is growing at 20 per cent, so the company will be able to make the most of the expanded production capacity. Berger Paints, the market leader, though is not as buoyant as BD Paints: the Indian paint manufacturer in its annual report for the 2018-19 financial year said the sector grew at only 2 per cent. After 7-8 per cent growth in the last few decades, in the 2018-19 financial year the paint industry had experienced abnormally low growth due to stagnation in the real estate market, said Berger Paints, the only listed paint company on Bangladesh’s bourse.

Source: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/bd-paints-seeking-tk-20cr-scale-production-the-basis-the-optimism-suspect-1881445

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi launches DNCRP hotline

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday said any deprived consumers could get help dialing 16121 of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP). The minister as the chief guest was addressing a discussion organised marking the World Consumer Rights Day-2020 at the conference room of commerce ministry where he inaugurated the DNCRP’s hotline 16121.

Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/tipu-launches-dncrp-hotline-1584286798

Local and Global Stock Indices *

Index NameClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
DSEX3,969.31219↓ 160.65↓ 3.89 %
DJIA23,185.62
↑ 1,985.00↑ 9.36 %
FTSE1005,366.11↑ 128.63↑ 2.46 %
Nikkei 22517,449.59↑ 18.54↑ 0.11 %

World Commodities *

CommodityClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
Crude Oil (WTI)$ 31.19 ↓ 0.54↓ 1.70 %
Crude Oil (Brent)$ 32.86 ↓ 0.99↓ 2.92 %
Gold Spot$ 1,547.60 ↑ 17.77↑ 1.16 %

Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days *

Exchange Rates
USD 1BDT 83.2598
GBP 1BDT 102.280
EUR 1BDT 92.4909
INR 1BDT 1.12449

*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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