New probe panel to review BB 2016 cyber heist
The Cabinet Division has established a six-member committee, led by Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, to reassess the 2016 cyber theft involving Bangladesh Bank’s reserves.
A gazette notification, signed by Mohammad Khaled Rahim, Additional Secretary of the Cabinet Division, was issued on Wednesday (12 March).
The committee comprises Muhammad Fouzul Kab...
Apex Chair Syed Manzur Elahi passes away
Syed Manzur Elahi, the prominent businessman and chairman of Apex Group, passed away at a hospital in Singapore this morning. He was 83. He passed away around 7:30 am today while undergoing treatment in Singapore.Former BASIS president Syed Almas Kabir confirmed the matter, adding:"Manzur's family was making arrangements to bring his body back to Dhaka later in the day." "Due to aging, Elahi's immune system had weakened. While he initially recovered from a lung infection, he later developed a stomach infection," he added.
Moody’s downgrades banking outlook to negative
Moody's Ratings has revised its outlook on Bangladesh's banking sector from stable to negative, citing increasing asset risks and worsening economic conditions. In a report released today, the agency highlighted several pressing concerns, including declining asset quality, persistent inflation, and slowing economic growth, all of which are expected to undermine banks' profitability and financial stability.
According to Moody's, Bangladesh's real GDP g...
Road to regional integration amid Dhaka-Tokyo trade imbalance
Trade relations between Japan and Bangladesh have grown steadily over the years, but several challenges persist. Bilateral trade increased from US$ 1 billion in 2010 to approximately US$ 3 billion in 2023, with ready-made garments (RMG) dominating Bangladesh’s exports. Other significant exports include leather goods and home textiles, while Bangladesh imports essential industrial products such as iron and steel, vehicles, and machinery from Japan. However, trade imbalances remain a concern, with Bangladesh facing a merchandise trade deficit with Japan. Additionally, anti-dumping duties (ADD) imposed by Japan on select Bangladeshi exports, such as jute, have further complicated trade relations.UN to rent property owned by fascist ally Bashundhara
The UN is relocating its agencies in Dhaka to a building complex owned by one of the families accused by Bangladesh's interim government of illegally funneling millions of dollars out of the country, the Financial Times (FT) has learned. The UN Resident Coordinator's office in Dhaka told the FT that the world body was "very aware" of the allegations against Bashundhara, Sobhan and his family members.Chief adviser of the interim government, Prof. Dr. Yunus, has described the alleged looting by elites as “highway robbery” and is demanding that the money “be returned.”
Bangladesh ranks #1 in 2024 global pollution index
The 2024 World Air Quality Report by Swiss-based IQAir has identified Bangladesh along with Chad as the most polluted countries, with Delhi, India, ranking as the most polluted capital. However, only seven nations worldwide met the WHO’s air quality standards, while pollution levels in Africa remain largely under-reported. The report also highlighted how environmental monitoring was affected by budget cuts and policy changes under former U.S. President Donald Trump, with the shutdown of air quality monitoring at American embassies and the removal of 17 years’ worth of data from the U.S. government’s airnow.gov database.
