Banks turn to bonds amid uncertainty
Bangladesh is facing a worrying decline in private sector investment, exacerbated by prolonged political instability. The country’s banking sector has witnessed a surge in excess liquid assets, reaching Tk2.15 lakh crore at the end of December 2024, compared to Tk1.63 lakh crore a year earlier. According to a report (https://bdreports24.com/private-investment-dips-multi-year-low) published in this news portal on Friday, this stark increase, largely driven by reduced private sector borrowing, signals a deep-rooted economic uncertainty that could have long-term ramifications.
Bangla is not Sierra Leone’s second language
The fact-checking organisation Rumor Scanner has refuted the claim that Bengali is the second official, official, or state language of the West African nation Sierra Leone.
In a report published on its website on Thursday, it stated:
“The claim that Bengali is the second official, official, or state language of Sierra Leone is incorrect, as the language was never considered a second state language in Sierra Leone.”
Oxfam Run 2025: A call for justice and equality
Oxfam in Bangladesh is set to organise the ‘Oxfam Run’ today (Saturday, 22 Feb 2025) at Dhaka’s Hatirjheel to promote the rights of four million domestic workers in the country.
The event, themed ‘Advocacy Beyond Walls,’ will bring together over 2,000 participants advocating for equality and the legal recognition of domestic workers.
Supported by Global Affairs Canada, the run aims to push fo...
Small loans boost Agent Banking growth in Bangladesh
Loan disbursements through agent banking saw a significant increase of 55.95 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), reaching Taka 24,028.31 crore by the end of December 2024, driven by improved access to finance for rural populations, according to data from Bangladesh Bank (BB).
In December of the previous year, loan disbursements amounted to Taka 15,407.33 crore.As of December 2024, a total of 31 banks provided agent banking services through 21,248 outlets o...
Bangladesh confirms walkout at Israel’s speech in Marrakesh
Some individuals have been misinterpreting an immediate walkout by certain delegates during the speech of the Israeli representative at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 18 February 2025, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry stated today (21 February).
"This is to clarify that the Bangladesh delegation was among the countries that walked out," the ministry said in a statement.
"Bangladesh’s stance on the Palestinian cause, as well as on Israel’s acts of genocide and other forms of repression against Palestinians, is well known," it added.
World Bank, ADB simplify lending rules
The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed an agreement to streamline development finance, introducing a unified set of conditions and requirements for borrowers in co-financed projects.
Under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework (FMRF), the two major lending institutions will enhance their collaboration, enabling borrowers to adhere to a single set of policies and procedures—either those of the World Bank or the A...
