BB asks all banks to craft business continuity plan
The central bank has asked all banks to prepare business continuity plan immediately to ensure that operations are not interrupted in the aftermath of pandemic exigencies. The Bangladesh Bank, or BB, has also instructed financial service providers to ready a list of key persons, who are involved in critical service management, including the information and communications technology infrastructure. The advisory came on Thursday, which asked chief executives of the banks to keep the banking and payment services uninterrupted in response to Covid-19 caused by new coronavirus.Some apparel makers at the meeting demanded shutdown of garment units, payment of wages and other allowances following the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the sector. Meeting sources said they sought prompt government support to meet the emergencies.
Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/bb-asks-all-banks-to-craft-business-continuity-plan-1584809371
WB provides $ 170m for Dhaka’s better sanitation
The World Bank has approved US$ 170 million to further improve sanitation services in capital, benefiting around 1.5 million urban people.The scheme will also provide 50,000 new household sewer connections. Further, to improve the quality of living in slum and low-income housing areas, the project will upgrade toilets and install communal septic tanks.The project will also help construct a new Sewage Treatment Plant at Pagla area with a capacity of treating about 150 million litres of domestic waste water per day.Dhaka’s 881 km sewer system is old. Often untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluent are illegally discharged into rivers and canals causing pollution and flooding.The project will receive a scale-up facility credit from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), with a 34-year term, including a four-year grace period. The project also includes $ 170 million financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and $ 143 million financing from the Bangladesh government.
Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/wb-provides-170m-for-dhakas-better-sanitation-1584805270
Govt focuses on youths working with blockchain solutions
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said through holding Blockchain Olympiad in Bangladesh, the government is bringing focus on the new wave of young talents working with most innovative blockchain solutions in the country.The aim of the workshop was to develop capacity of the youths to participate in the Blockchain Olympiad Bangladesh scheduled for April 16-18. The registration is open till March 31 and interested participants are encouraged to join through the BCOLBD website. A total of 157 teams comprising 459 students of 15 universities participated in the webinar on Blockchain technology.DrKaykobad said the top 20 teams from the BCOLBD will be mentored to further improve their quality and capacity as blockchain professionals and the top five teams will be given cash awards. The BCOLBD will also sponsor for participation in the International Blockchain Olympiad which is going to be held in Hong Kong sometimes in July this year.
Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock-corporate/govt-focuses-on-youths-working-with-blockchain-solutions-1584804769
Quadruple cropping pattern more profitable: Agriculturists
A new initiative aimed at increasing impact investment in the country’s social business as well as environmental sectors has been launched recently. The programme titled ‘BiniyogBriddhi (B-Briddhi) or Scaling Impact Enterprises of Bangladesh’ is a collaboration of three local and international organisations, a statement said on Saturday.The three organisations including German-based financial consultancy firm-Roots of Impact (RoI), Bangladesh’s business consultant firm LightCastle Partners (LCP) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Bangladesh launched the scheme through a video conference from their respective offices amid coronavirus outbreak.The entrepreneurs, who will play positive role in tackling environmental problems as well as improving the condition of the backward people, will get financial assistance under the programme. To this end, initially applications will be accepted from impact entrepreneurs and accelerator programmes through the website-www.sie-b.org. Applicants have been requested to visit the website for detailed information, the statement added.
Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/scheme-on-impact-investment-in-social-business-launched-1584805252
Scheme on impact investment in social business launched
Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) on Tuesday launched a Tk 3.0 billion low cost credit scheme on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Around 50,000 marginal poor will get accesses to the loan at 7.0 per cent simple interest.Seventeen borrowers received Tk 1.5 million at a launching ceremony of the scheme at the state-run specialised bank’s headquarters in the capital on the day. The BKB officials expected that disbursement of the loan will be completed by the end of this calendar year. Interested marginal poor, who normally are not eligible for the farm loan, will be entitled to get the loan under the scheme.
Source: https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade-market/bkb-launches-tk-30b-credit-scheme-1584461752
Local and Global Stock Indices *
Index Name | Close Value | Value Change | Percentage Change |
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DSEX | 3,974.96475 | ↑196.75 | ↑10.29 % |
DJIA | 3,772.56 | ↓ 196.75 | ↓ 4.96 % |
FTSE100 | 5,190.78 | ↑39.17 | ↑0.76% |
Nikkei 225 | 16,552.83 | ↓173.72 | ↓1.04 % |
World Commodities *
Commodity | Close Value | Value Change | Percentage Change |
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Crude Oil (WTI) | $22.63 | ↓ 3.28 | ↓ 12.66% |
Crude Oil (Brent) | $ 26.98 | ↓ 1.49 | ↓ 5.23 % |
Gold Spot | $1,498.64 | ↑27.40 | ↑1.86% |
Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days *
Exchange Rates |
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USD 1 | BDT 82.9956 |
GBP 1 | BDT 96.6251 |
EUR 1 | BDT 88.7339 |
INR 1 | BDT 1.10577 |
*CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES ARE TAKEN FROM BLOOMBERG.<