$

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

Click to Close

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

Important Business News Extracts November 10 2016

BB seeks info on demonetised Indian rupee notes

The central bank of Bangladesh Wednesday sought from all scheduled banks the relevant information about the volume of Indian rupee notes of 500 and 1000 denominations held by them. The notes were demonetised Tuesday night. “We’ve already contacted different banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI) operations in Bangladesh, over phone to know about holdings of their 500-and 1000-denomination Indian currencies,” a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) told the FE Wednesday. Most private commercial banks (PCBs) and foreign commercial banks (FCBs) replied in the negative, according to the central banker.

Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/11/10/52544/BB-seeks-info-on-demonetised-Indian-rupee-notes

Government plans to scale up investment facilities

The government has planned to increase investment facilities by taking USD 300.0 million loan from the World Bank to bring pace in the private investment, said officials at the finance division yesterday. An official of Finance Division said interest of the loan will be 0.75% to 1.5%. Economic Relation Division, at a recent inter-ministerial meeting, has recently finalized the USD 300.0 million World Bank loan proposal. Sources in the finance ministry said a portion of this fund will go to the country’s health sectors, including National Tuberculosis Control Program under a Social Impact Bond. The Social Impact Bond is a tool to give maximum advantage to the private sector in investing Tuberculosis program. The World Bank approved USD 10.0 million in additional financing to help Bangladesh scale up its e-procurement system.

Source: http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2016/11/10/govt-plans-scale-investment-facilities/

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka agree to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA)

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) to boost bilateral trade, the commerce ministry said in a statement yesterday. This year’s JEC meeting is the fifth of its kind between the two South Asian countries. Rishad Bathiudeen, industry and commerce minister of Sri Lanka, led his country’s delegation at the meeting, where signing the FTA was an agenda. If the FTA is signed, this will be Bangladesh’s first free trade deal with a country. Normally, Bangladesh, as a least-developed country, enjoys duty-free export benefit to many countries, but Sri Lanka, as a developing country, does not get such trade privileges. Ahmed said the FTA will boost Bangladesh’s exports, while Sri Lanka will be able to buy goods of global standards at lower prices from Bangladesh. Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was a meagre USD 76.0 million in 2015-16, of which Bangladesh’s import was USD 45.6 million and Sri Lanka’s USD 30.5 million. The minister said Bangladesh produces garments, pharmaceuticals, cement, paper, electrical items, and jute goods, which are high in demand in Sri Lanka.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/global-business/bangladesh-sri-lanka-agree-sign-fta-1312198

Edotco gets permission to buy back shares from Robi

The telecom regulator approved a proposal from edotco Bangladesh, a tower business company, to buy back 31.01% shares from its parent company Robi. Once the buyback is completed, edotco’s total holding in its Bangladesh unit will expand to 80.01% while Robi’s will shrink to 19.99%. Currently, Robi holds 51.0% shares in the company and edotco 49.0%. The Malaysian telecom tower management company aims to get a full license to run its operations in Bangladesh. In April, edotco applied to buy back the shares from Robi as the draft guideline does not allow any company to have any affiliation with any mobile phone operator. The draft also said any foreign tower company must have local partners to run its business in the country, promoting some local companies to start contacting edotco, said a senior official of the company. At present, edotco manages 8,000 towers of the six mobile phone operators in Bangladesh with permission from the BTRC. In 2014, Robi applied to the BTRC to transfer 80.0% of its shares to edotco but the commission rejected the plan.

Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/edotco-gets-permission-buy-back-robi-shares-1312195
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2016/11/10/edotcos-stake-ebcl-rises-80/

WB dissents from PPA amendment: Says amended law may further delay project execution

The World Bank (WB) has expressed its reservation about the amendment to Bangladesh’s public procurement law that it says would further delay project implementation, officials said. The Bank made known its doubt over the recent amendment to the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006, during a two-day review of its funded projects. WB Operations Manager Rajasree Paralkar, ERD Additional Secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam and high officials from the WB, ERD and government agencies attended the review meeting in Dhaka that ended Wednesday. The government early August amended the PPA, making a provision wherein it is stated that bids with less or more than 10.0% of the official cost estimation against any tender can be cancelled. Government agencies usually invite tenders from contractors or firms for procuring goods or services or works by estimating a cost officially. Official cost remains always hidden for the bidders.

Source: http://print.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/11/10/156326

India’s currency move leaves visiting Bangladeshis in trouble

Several thousand Bangladeshis who are currently visiting India are left high and dry after New Delhi’s shock move to withdraw Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes from circulation. In a bid to crack down on corruption, counterfeit currency and tax evasion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a special address to the nation on Tuesday evening announced that 500- and 1,000-rupee notes would become invalid from midnight. The move has put Indians and travelling Bangladeshis alike in a state of colossal inconvenience as retailers from restaurants to pharmacies and hospitals refused to accept the bills.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/indias-currency-move-leaves-visiting-bangladeshis-trouble-1312213

Appeal anew for GSP: exporters

Bangladesh should start negotiations with the new US government to get back the generalised system of preferences (GSP) and duty-free market access for apparel items, garment exporters said yesterday. Proving all media reports wrong, Republican candidate Donald Trump has won the US presidential election, which the local garment exporters termed as the beginning of a new era not only for the US economy, but also for Bangladesh’s trade ties with the North American country. The US is the largest export destination for Bangladesh. “So, any major change in US politics and economy is important for us,” said Atiqul Islam, the immediate past president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/business/global-business/appeal-anew-gsp-exporters-1312207

Local and Global Stock Indices

Index NameClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
DSEX4671.26↓19.81↓0.42%
Dow Jones Industrial Average18,589.69↑256.95↑1.40%
Nikkei 2256,911.84↑68.71↑1.00%
FTSE 10017,178.87↑927.33↑5.71%

World Commodities

CommodityClose ValueValue ChangePercentage Change
Crude Oil (WTI)*$45.02↓0.25↓0.55%
Crude Oil (Brent)*$46.23↓0.13↓0.28%
Gold Spot*1,287.96↑9.98↑0.78%

Major Currencies Exchange Rates Movement in Last Seven Days

exchange-nov-10

*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

×