United News of Bangladesh

Winter has brought a bumper vegetable harvest across the country, supported by smooth transportation and abundant supply, yet Dhaka’s consumers are seeing little relief at the markets. Visits to several city markets showed that vegetable prices remain stubbornly high, even as farmers complain they are barely recovering production costs, raising fresh questions about possible market manipulation and the role of middlemen in the supply chain. Dhaka’s kitchen markets are actually awash with winter vegetables, but prices show little sign of easing even in what is traditionally the cheapest season of the year. While consumers continue to pay inflated rates, farmers across producing districts say they are selling their produce at throwaway prices, pointing to a widening gap between farm-gate and retail prices driven largely by middlemen. Major wholesale markets in the capital receive winter vegetables from Bogura, Naogaon, Chuadanga, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Jashore and other districts. Traders say more than 50 truckloads of vegetables arrive in Dhaka every day from Bogura alone during the peak season. Despite ample supply, winter vegetables costly in Lalmonirhat Wholesalers at Karwan Bazar said supply is higher than last year, yet prices have not come down. By late January, wholesale prices were on average Tk 20 per kg higher than the same period a year ago. “Last year at this time, cauliflower sold at Tk 15–20 per kg wholesale. This year it is Tk 30–35,” said Latif Munshi, a vegetable trader at Karwan Bazar, adding, “We are buying at higher prices from upstream traders, so we have no option but to sell at higher rates to retailers.” Anwar Mia, a trader at the Swarighat wholesale market, echoed the sentiment. “Prices of cabbage, tomato, cucumber, carrot, bottle gourd—almost all winter vegetables—are higher than last year. There is no supply shortage, but increased intermediary costs are pushing prices up.” The picture is starkly different at the production level. In Bogura’s Sherpur upazila, vegetable grower and trader Naim Meyajan said he cultivated cauliflower on nearly 10 bighas of land. While early varieties fetched good prices between September and November, prices collapsed once peak harvesting began in December. “Wholesalers bought fields early at Tk 80,000 to Tk 100,000 per bigha against a production cost of around Tk 50,000. But when the main harvest started, there were no buyers for fields. I had to take cauliflowers to market where prices fell to Tk 5 per kg,” he said. Farmers at Fulbari and Mohasthan haats in Bogura said prices of most vegetables started falling sharply by late December. In many cases, they were forced to sell produce at an inflated ‘maund’ calculation—60 kg instead of the standard 40 kg—yet still failed to recover costs. Early winter vegetable cultivation gains momentum across Khulna division In Dhaka, however, prices moved in the opposite direction. Cauliflower that sold at Tk 25 per piece in late December is now priced at Tk 40–50 depending on size. At Shantinagar kitchen market, cabbage is selling at around Tk 50 per piece. By contrast, in Sirajganj’s Ullapara upazila, farmer Bhobesh Ghoshal said he sold cabbage at Tk 6–10 per piece in January. “Those same cabbages are being sold in Dhaka at Tk 20 or more”. A visit to the Jatrabari wholesale hub shows cabbage trading at Tk 25–30 per piece wholesale, before reaching consumers at Tk 50. For key winter vegetables, the price gap between farmers and consumers ranges from Tk 30 to Tk 40 per unit. Tomato prices show an even sharper disparity. Early varieties arrive in Dhaka from Chattogram, while seasonal tomatoes mainly come from Rajshahi. In both phases, retail prices in Dhaka have ranged between Tk 100 and Tk 150 per kg. In Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila, tomato farmer Moktar Hossain said he is currently selling tomatoes at Tk 40 per kg, down from Tk 50–80 during the early season. “Middlemen are selling those tomatoes in Dhaka at Tk 60 per kg, and prices keep rising along the chain.” At wholesale markets in Dhaka, tomatoes are sold to retailers at Tk 80–90 per kg and finally reach consumers at Tk 100–120. The cumulative price difference from farm to table stands at Tk 50–70 per kg. Radish prices, though relatively lower, reflect a similar pattern. In retail markets, radish sells at Tk 30–40 per kg. In Cumilla’s Gomti char area, farmer Sohrab said radish is sold in bundles rather than by weight. “One bundle of 8–10 radishes sells for Tk 30, which is roughly Tk 10 per kg,” he said. “But consumers are paying at least Tk 20 more per kg in Dhaka.” According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), more than 700,000 kg of vegetables are sold daily in Dhaka. Even assuming a conservative price gap of Tk 20 per kg between farmers and consumers, the additional daily burden on consumers stands at around Tk 15 million—amounting to nearly Tk 500 million over January due to elevated prices. Commenting on the situation, Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President AHM Shafiquzzaman blamed market syndicates and weak oversight. “A group of traders is taking advantage of the pre-election period by forming syndicates and destabilising the vegetable market. Vegetables have been selling at high prices for nearly a month, but there is no effective monitoring. Extortion at different stages of the supply chain is also pushing prices up,” he said. Shafiquzzaman warned that prices could rise further during Ramadan, expressing doubts about official assurances of market stability. “Government data is often unreliable,” he said. Calling for decisive action, he urged the authorities to dismantle syndicates of middlemen, ensure fair prices for farmers and protect consumer rights through stricter market regulation. Former Jahangirnagar University vice-chancellor and agricultural economist Abdul Bayes, however, advised that ensuring fair prices for both consumers and farmers in the agricultural market should not rely solely on government intervention; instead, marginal farmers must be empowered. Vegetable prices soar in Manikganj amid inclement weather Emphasising the formation of farmers’ cooperatives, Bayes said, “A single farmer from Bogura cannot bring 100 kilograms of cauliflower to Dhaka to sell. But if 100 farmers from the same area form a cooperative, they can collectively bypass middlemen and bring their produce directly to the market. This would allow farmers to secure better prices from wholesalers, while consumers would be able to buy vegetables at lower prices.” He also noted that NGOs could play an important role by supporting farmers in forming such cooperatives. Besides, Bayes said, if the government can dismantle syndicates in wholesale markets, foster competition, and curb extortion along supply chains, long-term market instability in the vegetable sector could be brought under control.

Wall Street plunged sharply on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on eight European countries, intensifying tensions over his push to assert American influence over Greenland. The sell-off affected nearly all sectors, extending losses from last week. The S&P 500 fell 143.15 points, or 2.1%, to 6,796.86, marking its steepest decline since October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 870.74 points, or 1.8%, to 48,488.59, while the Nasdaq composite slid 561.07 points, or 2.4%, to 22,954.32. Technology stocks led the decline, with Nvidia down 4.4% and Apple falling 3.5%. Retailers, banks and industrial companies also lost ground, including Lowe’s (-3.3%), JPMorgan Chase (-3.1%) and Caterpillar (-2.5%). Global markets reacted similarly, with European and Asian indices falling. Japanese long-term bond yields hit record levels amid concerns over fiscal policy. Gold and silver prices surged 3.7% and 6.9% respectively, while bitcoin retreated to around $89,700 from last week’s peak above $96,000. Trump said on Saturday that he would levy a 10% import tax in February on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland. Combined imports from these European nations exceed those from the US’s two largest import partners, Mexico and China. The threat has drawn sharp diplomatic reactions in Europe, with leaders considering countermeasures, including retaliatory tariffs. Analysts warned that such measures could push up inflation, complicating the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook. Investors are also monitoring corporate earnings amid the tariff uncertainty. Industrial giant 3M fell 7% after reporting mixed quarterly results, while other major firms, including Johnson & Johnson, Halliburton and Intel, are expected to release earnings this week.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has introduced six political leaders accompanying him at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) with top US companies, encouraging them to expand investments in Bangladesh. “It was a big meeting. Prof Yunus spoke and called upon US companies to invest more in Bangladesh,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters after the event. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were also present. The US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) hosted the roundtable discussion titled “US-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable: Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth” at a New York hotel on Wednesday. Senior executives from leading US companies and major investors in Bangladesh, including MetLife, Chevron and Excelerate Energy, attended the meeting. UN budget cuts, shrinking ODA to be 'counterproductive' for Bangladesh: Prof Yunus Bangladesh’s political delegation included BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat leader Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, and NCP First Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara. Prof Yunus introduced the political leaders with the US businesses and highlighted that a new political government will be formed through a fair election scheduled for February next year. “Prof Yunus introduced them with the US business community so that they could get to know each other better,” said Press Secretary Alam. Talking to reporters, Jamaat leader Taher praised the initiative and said US investors expressed encouragement. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, and leaders of the USBBC were present.

Stocks at both Dhaka and Chattogram bourses edged higher in the early hours of Wednesday’s trading, supported by gains in a majority of company shares. At the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the benchmark index DSEX advanced 8 points within the first hour of trade. The Shariah-based index DSES added 2 points, while the blue-chip index DS30 remained almost flat. Out of the traded issues, prices increased for 162 companies, declined for 149 and remained unchanged for 81. DSE ends lower, CSE higher after volatile trading The turnover at the DSE exceeded Tk 400 crore during the opening hour. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) also mirrored the upward trend as its overall index gained 44 points. Of the 139 issues traded, 56 advanced, 62 declined and 21 remained unchanged. The turnover at the CSE stood at around Tk 3 crore in the same period.

Trading on the country’s stock markets resumed on Tuesday after the Bengali New Year holiday, but investors saw no signs of recovery as both major bourses witnessed a fall in indices, with most company share prices declining. All key indices of the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) dropped within the first two hours of trading. Asian shares mostly gain as Trump temporarily eases tariffs The benchmark index, DSEX, fell by 19 points. The Shariah-compliant index, DSES, lost 6 points, while the DS30 index, which comprises blue-chip companies, declined by 11 points. A majority of companies saw their share prices slide. Out of the securities traded, the prices of 207 companies dropped, while only 114 advanced. The prices of 74 companies remained unchanged. By midday, the total turnover on the DSE had exceeded Tk 240 crore in shares and units. Similar trends were observed at the Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), where trading also took a significant hit. The overall index of the CSE fell by 54 points during the first two hours of the session. Of the 135 companies that participated in trading at the CSE, prices rose for only 35, dropped for 78 and remained unchanged for 22. Do you consider Bangladesh as a cashless economy? During the first half of the session, the CSE recorded over Tk 3.5 crore in share and unit transactions. Despite hopes of a post-holiday rebound, market sentiment appears to remain subdued, reflecting continued caution among investors.

Highlighting Singapore as a key source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin has invited more investment in priority sectors like energy, ICT, telecommunications, port and airport infrastructure, urban development and agro-processing. The Foreign Secretary particularly drew the attention of Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and stressed on cooperation in the health sector in terms of capacity building, sharing of expertise and development of health infrastructure in Bangladesh catering to the growing demand for quality health services. Bangladesh, Türkiye eye stronger ties through enhanced collaboration Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin met Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday in Singapore, following the Foreign-Secretary level bilateral consultations between Bangladesh and Singapore. The Foreign Secretary informed him that both sides had very productive discussions on a number of important issues during the consultations. Dhaka signs OIC Statute for promoting labour rights He praised Singapore’s leadership for championing economic development, good governance and free market economy, standing as an example for the Asian countries, including Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary also appreciated Singapore for its excellent migrant workers’ regime and thanked the Singapore government for taking care of Bangladesh’s expatriates who are contributing to both the economies. Noting the growing bilateral trade, Jashim Uddin highlighted the import-potential of Bangladeshi products particularly pharmaceuticals, leather goods, RMG, ceramics, bicycles, home textile and footwear in the Singapore market and beyond. He underlined the importance of concluding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore, under negotiation, to boost bilateral trade. Foreign Minister Balakrishnan heard updates in detail on the Rohingya crisis from Foreign Secretary and reiterated Singapore’s support to Bangladesh on this issue, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In regard to Bangladesh’s bid for Asean sectoral dialogue partner status, he reaffirmed Singapore’s support to Bangladesh saying that two friendly countries would continue to support each other on the regional and global issues of mutual interest. Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin thanked the Foreign Minister and hoped that Singapore would play its role within the Asean platform to build consensus on this matter as a close friend of Bangladesh. Bangladesh, Singapore to finalise FTA by 2026 The Foreign Secretary underlined the significance of regular interactions at the political level and exchange of high-level visits including Foreign Minister’s visit to Bangladesh to further strengthen bilateral ties between two friendly countries.

US President Donald Trump declared a complete halt on all “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight, with the exception of those imposed on China. Trump announced that tariffs on China would rise from 104% to 125%, reports CNN. Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has expressed his gratitude to President Trump for his decision. "Thank you, Mr. President, (@POTUS) for responding positively to our request for 90-day pause on tariffs. We will continue to work with your administration in support of your trade agenda," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said quoting Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump stated that he had “authorized a 90-day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.” “Due to the lack of respect China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on his social media. “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable,” he added. The decision to raise tariffs on China followed Beijing's announcement of new retaliatory tariffs on the United States, set to take effect on Thursday. The Trump administration has specifically targeted China's trade practices, said the report. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Trump’s resolve, stating on Wednesday that Trump had “great courage to stay the course until this moment.” The administration has warned countries worldwide, “do not retaliate and you will be rewarded,” and expressed willingness to negotiate with any nation seeking to engage in talks, Bessent noted. Bessent emphasized that the move “signals that President Trump cares about trade and that we want to negotiate in good faith.” Both Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were with Trump when he posted his message on Truth Social, Lutnick confirmed on a post on X,added the report. “Scott Bessent and I sat with the President while he wrote one of the most extraordinary Truth posts of his Presidency,” Lutnick wrote. “The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction.” Stocks surged following the announcement, with the Dow climbing 2,200 points, or 5.9%. The S&P 500 gained 6.5%, and the Nasdaq rose by more than 8%. The markets had been under pressure due to the potential for significantly higher tariffs, as outlined by Trump last week, the report also said. However, Trump did not indicate that he was pausing the 10% universal tariff on all trading partners, except for Canada and Mexico, which took effect over the weekend. As a result, countries that had reciprocal tariffs imposed on them would still face a 10% tariff, Bessent confirmed.

The Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 kicked off in Dhaka on Monday marking a milestone event aimed at reinforcing the country’s commitment to economic progress, investment-friendly policies, and sustainable growth. At the opening session of Bangladesh Startup Connect 2025, Tanveer Ali, Chairman of Constellation Asset Management Company Ltd, delivered the keynote address. Shift towards renewable energy both urgent necessity and strategic investment opportunity: BIDA The session featured a high-level plenary moderated by Sadia Haque, Co-Founder and CEO of Sharetrip, with panelists including Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA; Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, ICT Division; Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor of Bangladesh Bank; Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Secretary of the Finance Division; and Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division and Chairman of Startup Bangladesh Ltd. The summit seeks to present a “genuine view” of Bangladesh to global investors by showcasing real stories of investment opportunities across various sectors, according to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA). Delegations from China, the UK, the US, Singapore, South Korea, and India are among the international participants attending the summit, organisers said. Key global figures participating include Baroness Rosie Winterton, UK Trade Envoy to Bangladesh; Jarno Syrjälä, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World; Óscar García Maceiras, CEO of Inditex; Mike Orgill, Senior Director of Public Policy & Government Relations, APAC at Uber; Kyeongsu Lee, Vice President of Samsung C&T; Jon Omund Revhaug, Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor Asia; and Han Jun-seokt, CEO of Giordano Korea. On the opening day, a delegation of investors visited the Korean Export Processing Zone. They will also visit Mirsarai Economic Zone in Chattogram.  On April 8, participants will tour the Japanese Economic Zone in Araihazar. Tapping US energy market key to easing energy supply shortage: BIDA chief Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will join the summit as chief guest on April 9. Additional highlights include a matchmaking session and a roundtable discussion on global best practices in investment. Key partners for the event include the UNDP, FCDO, Grameenphone, the World Bank, and FICCI—underscoring the collaborative push to drive foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh. An agreement is set to be signed with NASA during the summit, and five domestic and international investors will be honored for their contributions. Stock Market endures worst week since 2020 as China retaliates against Trump’s Tariffs Over 550 top-level officials from more than 40 countries, including Bangladesh, are participating in the event, converging to explore opportunities, share innovative ideas, and celebrate milestones in the country’s investment landscape.

Bangladesh is poised to become the world's largest cotton importer in the current fiscal year, driven by its strategic geopolitical position and a shifting global trade environment, according to industry insiders and trade experts. They, however,  caution that the ongoing geopolitical challenges may threaten a steady cotton supply, potentially disrupting the country’s vital export sector. Educated but unemployed; joblessness soars among graduates in Bangladesh   In this context, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said, “We are considering importing cotton from the US, to minimise the trade gap with the country and encourage the US agriculture production.” He noted that increased cotton imports from the US could mutually benefit American suppliers and Bangladeshi businesses, while also safeguarding Bangladesh from potential tariff pressures under a Trump administration. “The US government will hesitate to impose tariffs on goods made in Bangladesh, while Bangladesh imports more cotton from the country,” he said during a recent discussion meeting. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has forecast that Bangladesh will overtake China in cotton imports during FY2024-25.  Cotton is a crucial raw material for Bangladesh’s ready-made garment and textile sector. According to the USDA’s latest report, Bangladesh is expected to import 7.8 million bales of cotton this year, up from over 7.5 million bales in FY2023-24. Globally, cotton imports are projected to reach 42.4 million bales during FY2024-25, with Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, and Pakistan accounting for 65 percent of that total. China is expected to import 8 million bales, Bangladesh 7.8 million, Vietnam 7.1 million, and Pakistan 4.8 million bales. Despite the optimistic import forecast, local textile mill owners report that many factories are operating below capacity due to a persistent gas crisis. Showkat Aziz Russell, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), said Bangladesh has reduced incentives for parts of the garment sector and suspended Indian yarn imports through land ports.  He believes this will bolster domestic textile production in the coming months. “Bangladeshi textiles are producing world-class yarn, which is best for good quality fabrics. So stopping low-quality yarn through land ports was a threat to domestic textiles and Bangladesh to compete with global producers,” Russell said. Speaking to UNB, he stressed that a stable cotton supply chain is essential to maintaining Bangladesh’s export flow, and that the US market could serve as a strong option. Russell added that as Bangladesh leads the world in cotton-based manufacturing, it is natural that the country will also be the top global cotton importer. Muhammad Ayub, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Cotton Association, emphasised the need for uninterrupted cotton import sources to ensure timely delivery of export orders. “Our country is importing around 50 percent of cotton from African countries, but war and other crises are increasing in the African countries,” he said. NBR looking for expansion of base of VAT payers “The US will be a good source of importing cotton if the price is competitive to avert the difficulties of tariff war or trade war,” Ayub added. He further stressed the importance of diversifying sources and boosting domestic cotton production through high-yield varieties to cushion against future global supply shocks. Dr Md Fakhre Alam Ibne Tabib, Executive Director of the Cotton Development Board, told UNB that cotton is being cultivated on 46,000 hectares of land this year, with a production target of 228,000 bales (each weighing 182 kg). Last year, 210,000 bales were produced from 45,150 hectares. He noted that Bangladesh’s annual cotton demand stands at around 8.5 million bales, with approximately 8.3 million bales requiring import each year. This import volume costs the country roughly Tk35,000 crore. Highlighting the sector’s scale, Tabib said that primary investment in Bangladesh’s textile and clothing industry exceeds US$22 billion, contributing 13 percent to GDP.  BNP mulls fresh protests as Chief Adviser's speech 'lacks election roadmap' The sector includes 1,849 BTMA-member mills and accounts for over 86 percent of national export earnings. Cotton fibres make up 71 percent of materials used, with non-cotton fibres comprising the remaining 29 percent.

The number of Tk1.0 crore and above has increased by 4,954 in three months, reflecting a regained confidence in the banking system.Banking sector experts say that money outside the banking system has started returning to the bank again. Wall Street edges lower ahead of US inflationAs a result, the number of deposits in the bank has increased. At the same time, the number of bank accounts of the wealthy has also started increasing.According to Bangladesh Bank's latest financial update, the number of accounts of individuals and institutions with more than Tk 1.0 crore and above has increased by 4,954 in three months. Currently, there are a total of 1,22,081 such account holders.According to the Central Bank, the total number of accounts in the banking sector up to December 2024 was 16.32 crore. The total deposit balance in these accounts stood at Tk18,83,711 crore. Stock market trends maintain upward momentum in Dhaka, ChattogramAt the end of September last year, the total number of accounts in the banking sector was 16,2028,155. These accounts had deposits of Tk18,250,33 crore. Accordingly, the number of accounts in the banking sector increased by 12,19,277 in three months. The volume of deposits increased by Tk45628 crore.The report said that at the end of December 2024, the number of bank accounts with deposits of more than Tk1.0 crore stood at 1,22,081, which was 1,17,127, three months ago in the September quarter. Bangladesh Bank reconstitutes boards of three private banksAccordingly, the number of accounts above Tk1.0 crore increased by 4954 in three months. Earlier, in the June quarter of last year, there were a total of 1,18,784 accounts deposited Tk 1.0 crore and above.