Praising Bangladesh’s good track record in loan repayment, China on Tuesday "agreed in principle" to extend the loan repayment period and assured to look into the request of the interest rate reduction. Bangladesh Foreign Adviser Md Touhid, during his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, requested China to reduce interest rate from 2-3% to 1%, waive commitment fee and extend loan repayment period from 20 years to 30 years for both the Preferential Buyer’s Credit (PBC) loan and Government Concessional Loan (GCL). The Chinese Foreign Minister also assured to continue DFQF access of Bangladeshi products to the Chinese market for 3 years after the LDC graduation. Meanwhile, Bangladesh and China signed the ‘Implementation Plan" of the MoU in exchange of "Hydrological Information" sharing of the Yaluzangbu-Jamuna River. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China places Bangladesh at a very important position in her neighborhood diplomacy and praised the existing warm relations between the two nations. Bangladesh and China reaffirmed their commitment to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ during bilateral talks held at the Diaoyuitai State Guest House in Beijing. Yi said the people of Bangladesh have given important responsibility to Prof Yunus who has dedicated himself in maintaining civility and unity of the country, and his government has done many tangible good things for Bangladesh. He recalled his fruitful meeting with Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the last UNGA. Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed that China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bangladesh and reiterated continued Chinese support for the stability, reforms, democratic transition and development initiatives of Bangladesh. He also mentioned that China wants to see Bangladesh’s economic development in pace with their own development. ‘China would continue supporting projects conducive to the livelihood of the people of Bangladesh’–the Foreign Minister stated. Adviser Hossain is paying an official visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister. Dr Yunus begins extensive engagements in Davos; holds talks with German Chancellor Senior officials from the Ministries of Commerce, Water Resources and the Economic Relations Division are accompanying the Foreign Adviser. This is his first bilateral visit abroad after assuming charge. This visit also coincides with the celebration of the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between the two friendly nations. Adviser Hossain was warmly welcomed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi before the bilateral talks. The talks were held in a very cordial atmosphere covering a wide range of topics including development cooperation, trade and investment, infrastructure development, sectoral cooperation, and people to people exchanges. Both sides expressed their commitment to deepening collaboration in areas of mutual interest and leveraging opportunities for shared prosperity. Adviser Hossain emphasised that his first bilateral visit to China reflects Bangladesh’s strong intent to engage with China in a robust partnership to give the relationship a new momentum. Adviser Hossain reiterated Bangladesh’s firm commitment to ‘One China Principle’ and unwavering support for UNGA Resolution 2758. He mentioned that the July-August 2024 movement in Bangladesh gave an opportunity to rebuild our nation on the principles of equality, non-discrimination, corruption free system and equal access to resources for all. Malaysia extends repatriation programme for undocumented Bangladeshis Upon Bangladesh’s request, Foreign Minister Yi conveyed China’s decision to especially designate 3 to 4 recognised hospitals in Kunming for treatment of Bangladeshi patients. He also welcomed Bangladesh’s proposal of establishing a specialised tertiary level Chinese hospital in Dhaka as a gesture of goodwill on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations.

Asian shares traded with mixed results in a generally subdued session on Tuesday, despite expectations for market movements following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, reports AP. While some analysts suggested the inauguration could boost global market optimism, others cautioned that potential tariffs could dampen Asian economies. U.S. markets remained closed on Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. China's economy grows 5% in 2024 Japan's Nikkei 225 index slipped 0.1% to 38,951.77 during morning trading. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% to 8,392.80, while South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.2% to 2,514.06. Concerns regarding Trump's policies towards China have somewhat eased, as both nations expressed commitments to improving relations. Trump refrained from announcing immediate tariff measures on Chinese exports to the U.S. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 0.4% to 20,012.25, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% to 3,233.85. “In a surprising turn that eased global market concerns, President Trump indicated he would not impose new tariffs immediately, contrary to earlier expectations,” remarked Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. Americans to experience economic pain from Trump tariffs: Canada Reflecting some market optimism over potential executive actions to stimulate the U.S. economy, U.S. stock market futures edged higher. In other developments, shares of Fuji Media Holdings—affiliated with prominent Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV—fell during morning trading. The drop followed announcements by several companies, including Toyota Motor Corp., to halt advertising during Fuji TV programmes amidst a sex scandal reported by the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude slipped $1.14 to $76.74 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, rose 13 cents to $80.28 a barrel. Germany's economy shrinks again Currency trading saw modest moves, with the U.S. dollar weakening slightly amid uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariff plans. The dollar declined to 155.14 Japanese yen from 155.61 yen. The euro traded at $1.0389, down marginally from $1.0419.

China's economy grew at an annual rate of 5% in 2024, meeting Beijing's "around 5%" growth target, though slower than the previous year. This performance was driven by robust exports and recent stimulus measures, reports AP. Americans to experience economic pain from Trump tariffs: Canada The government reported Friday that the economy accelerated in the fourth quarter, with a 5.4% growth rate from October to December. Export activity surged as businesses and consumers sought to preempt potential tariff increases by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Chinese goods. “The national economy was generally stable, with steady progress and notable achievements in high-quality development,” the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated. The report credited timely implementation of policy measures for boosting public confidence and facilitating a significant economic recovery. Manufacturing played a key role in the growth, with industrial output rising 5.8% year-on-year. Retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.5% annually, while exports grew 7.1% and imports rose 2.3%. Germany's economy shrinks again Despite these gains, China's economy faces challenges, including weaker consumer spending, deflationary pressures, and a struggling property sector, historically a major growth driver. The economy grew at 5.2% in 2023, and experts anticipate a further slowdown in coming years. According to Zichun Huang of Capital Economics, recent policy easing helped the economy regain momentum in the last quarter of 2024. Huang noted, “Increased fiscal spending should continue to support activity in the near term, though growth is likely to slow in 2025 due to potential U.S. tariff hikes and structural imbalances.” China’s aging and declining population adds to its economic pressures. The population dropped for the third consecutive year in 2024, reaching 1.408 billion—a decline of 1.39 million from the previous year. Rising living costs, coupled with stagnant wages, have led many young Chinese to delay or forgo marriage and parenthood, exacerbating demographic challenges. Some analysts question the accuracy of China’s official growth figures. Cornell University economist Eswar Prasad remarked, “The official growth target’s exact achievement is doubtful, given widespread indicators of weak economic activity and financial stress.” He cited low domestic demand, deflationary pressures, and an unfavourable global environment as major hurdles. President-elect Trump has pledged to increase U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, while the outgoing Biden administration recently tightened restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductors and technologies to China, aiming to maintain the U.S. lead in innovation. In response, China’s government has introduced various stimulus measures, including reducing bank reserve requirements, lowering interest rates, and advancing budget allocations for infrastructure projects. Authorities have also instructed banks to support indebted property developers. Fu Linghui, NBS spokesperson, emphasised the importance of boosting consumption and domestic demand in 2025. “With coordinated efforts between existing and incremental policies, economic recovery momentum is building, consumer demand recovery has accelerated, and favourable conditions for moderate price rebounds are increasing,” Fu said. To revive domestic demand, Beijing has expanded a trade-in programme for consumer goods and raised salaries for millions of government employees. However, economists stress the need for broader structural reforms to enhance productivity and reduce reliance on construction and export manufacturing. Concerns persist about private sector confidence, which has been shaken by years of unpredictable policy changes. Additionally, weak social safety nets, declining housing prices, and subdued stock market performance have dampened household spending. “China needs a comprehensive and well-coordinated policy package to revitalise growth,” Prasad advised. Such measures should combine substantial monetary and fiscal stimulus with reforms to rebuild private sector confidence and support long-term economic sustainability.

JPMorgan’s net income soared 50% to more than $14 billion in the fourth quarter as the bank’s profit and revenue easily beat Wall Street forecasts. Earnings per share rose to $4.81 from $3.04 a year ago. The result beat Wall Street profit projections of $4.09 a share, according to the data firm FactSet. Total managed revenue hit $43.7 billion, up 10%, from $39.9 billion a year ago. Wall Street was expecting revenue of $41.9 billion. Britain’s Treasury chief kicks off China visit The New York bank set aside $2.6 billion to cover bad loans, up about 20% from the same period a year ago. JPMorgan shares jumped on the bank's final financial results of 2024, climbing 2.6% before the bell.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Sunday said trade is the most important vehicle for economic development, not aid or grants. “We have very excellent relationships with Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea and other countries that are coming in a big way for our economic development,” he said while speaking at a report launching ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the chief guest. Referring to Samsung investment issue, the Finance Adviser said Samsung came in the past to invest but were not welcomed and they went to Vietnam. He said Bangladesh is paying the price now as a lot of wrong policies were taken in the past. Govt trying to make things easy for investors: Foreign Adviser He said many countries are proposing free trade agreements (FTAs) with Bangladesh and the country needs to remain prepared. The Finance Adviser said the government will do everything, and the private sector will just take the opportunity. “Private sector has to be very competitive, efficient, and also perform their job.” “One thing very clearly I have said - subsidies, cheap money and low interest rate – those days are gone ... .these are not the signs of a competitive economy,” he said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled the comprehensive report titled “Enhancing Saudi-Bangladesh Economic Engagement, Trends, Key Challenges & Long-term Growth Prospects,” prepared under its initiative with research support from Policy Exchange, a private policy think tank based in Dhaka. The report documented by Policy Exchange under the leadership of Dr M Masrur Reaz, offered in-depth insights and analyses into the potential economic engagements between Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin presided over the session. KSA revises fees for visa, Iqama renewals Speaking as special guest, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain reaffirmed the interim government’s dedication to streamlining processes to facilitate investment in Bangladesh, signaling a renewed commitment to removing barriers for foreign investors. The Finance Adviser echoed this sentiment by sharing ongoing reform initiatives in Bangladesh aimed at creating an investor-friendly environment. Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin reflected on the shared historical linkages and values between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia while calling for enhanced engagements among the businessmen and relevant stakeholders in areas of mutual economic cooperation. Saudi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan highlighted Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for Bangladesh while acknowledging challenges previously faced by Saudi investors. He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering a stronger economic partnership. The ceremony witnessed participation from key officials representing BIDA, ERD, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Finance, along with prominent business leaders, members of the media, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saudi’s Aramco willing to build refinery in Bangladesh Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided the audience with the background and context of the report, emphasising its significance in strengthening Saudi-Bangladesh relations. This was followed by a presentation of the salient features of the report by Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Dr M Masrur Reaz.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the country's main capital market, saw an upward trend in the first hour on Sunday. After the weekend, 3 indexes of Dhaka stock market—DSEX, DSES, and DS30—increased in the morning. DSEX drops 7.98 points as 117 stocks decline in early trade The main index DSEX increased by 30.24 points to 5,214.68  points, the DSES Shariah index up by 2.86 points to 1173 points, and the DS30 special blue chip index was up by 10.71 points to 1937.99 points during the first hour on Sunday. Shares and units of 3.44 crore were exchanged through 35033 transactions. In the first hour. The market witnessed huge selling pressure and shares and mutual funds worth Tk 102.7 crore were traded. Dhaka Stock Market ends Tuesday with a narrowly upward trend A total of 375 companies participated in trading. Among these, prices of 267 companies increased, 42 companies decreased and 66 companies remained unchanged at the DSE.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) extended its losing streak on Tuesday, marking the third consecutive day of decline. The benchmark DSEX index plunged by 57.40 points, closing at 5,242.66 amid mounting sales pressure, bringing the total three-day loss to 112.65 points.  The DSEX was not alone in its downward trajectory. The Shariah-based DSES index fell by 17.5 points to settle at 1,153.93, while the DS30 blue-chip index shed 20.17 points, ending at 1,942.90.  Turnover on the DSE dropped to Tk 514.8 crore on Tuesday, down by Tk 36.5 crore from Monday's Tk 551.3 crore. A total of 16.8 crore shares and mutual fund units changed hands through 181,081 transactions, compared to 17.51 crore shares exchanged in 179,434 transactions the day prior.  Out of the 388 companies traded, 267 saw their share prices decline, while only 76 posted gains. Prices for 45 companies remained unchanged, reflecting subdued investor sentiment.  The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) mirrored the overall downtrend but saw marginal fluctuations. The CASPI index edged up slightly, gaining 0.84 points to close at 14,691.05.  A total of 218 companies participated in Tuesday's CSE trading. Prices for 134 companies dropped, 58 advanced, and 26 remained unchanged. Turnover on the CSE, however, showed an uptick, increasing to Tk 11.1 crore from Monday’s Tk 5.33 crore. Trading volume reached 24.21 lakh shares and units, exchanged through 2,580 transactions. 

We’ve all heard of postmortem. It’s usually associated with homicide which gives the word its grim aura. But what about premortem? Before getting into it, let’s think of the times you’ve failed in life. How many times have you thought that if you had done things differently, the outcome could’ve been different? It is something that applies to every sphere of life, be it personal, social, career, or business. That’s where premortem analysis comes in.  What is Premortem Analysis?  Growing up, we’ve all heard “Prevention is better than cure”. It essentially signifies that it is important to identify and consider potential failures before doing something as it reduces the chance of failure.  Premortem analysis is a strategic planning technique used to identify potential risks and pitfalls in a project, decision, or course of action before it is implemented. It is the opposite of postmortem analysis which works to understand what went wrong after the conclusion of a project.  Read more: What is Your Desired Salary? How to Answer Recruitment’s Trickiest Question Ways to Anticipate Failure by Premortem Analysis It's easy to look back and see what went wrong in the process. But the same isn’t true when it comes to anticipating failure. It requires rigorous work with precedence, potential scenarios, and alternatives to assess the risk level and ways to mitigate it.  To better illustrate the steps of premortem analysis, let us consider a retail company called Terry’s Grocery. Terry’s Grocery wants to open a new location in a new city. Here’s what an ideal premortem analysis of the store would look like. 

Speakers at a seminar on green growth in packaging and plastic industries on Saturday urged the stakeholders to foster dialogue and collaboration on critical aspects of transitioning towards a circular economy, where waste is minimised, and resources are reused and recycled. The Bangladesh Printing and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and Green Tech Foundation Bangladesh organised the seminar titled "Green Growth: Exploring Investment Avenues in Sustainable Printing, Packaging, and Plastic Industries for the Circular Economy in Bangladesh" at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka, on Friday. The event brought together industry experts, policymakers, financial institutions, and development organisations to deliberate on the potential for green investments in the plastic, packaging, and printing sectors in Bangladesh. Be tough on dishonest traders but incentivise the honest: Finance minister asks NBR   Shamim Ahmed, President of BPGMEA, delivered the welcome speech, setting the tone for the insightful discussions that followed. Mohammad Sayeedur Rahman, management counsellor, at the Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), provided a comprehensive keynote, offering insightful perspectives on green growth and the circular economy in Bangladesh. Michael Klode, Project Manager, GIZ Bangladesh, shared expertise on sustainable plastics and waste management. Serve people by keeping prices of commodities at tolerable level: Food Minister   Sattya Ranjan Bhattacharjee, NPC, UNIDO, discussed policy frameworks and best practices for sustainable plastic use and marine litter prevention in Bangladesh. Khondkar Morshed Millat, Former Director Sustainable Finance, Bangladesh Bank, and Advisor of GreenTech Foundation Bangladesh, highlighted financing mechanisms for green projects. Douwe Dijkstra, Country Director Cordaid, Bangladesh, shed light on the role of NGOs in plastic waste management and the circular economy. Md. Houmyoun Kabir Khan, Director, Strategic Investment Unit, BIDA, illuminated investment opportunities in the sector. Special guests included Edwin KOEKKOEK, Team Leader - Green Inclusive Development & Social Protection, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, who shared international perspectives. Bangladesh needs to introduce social insurance for all, not social safety net: CPD   Dr. Lutfor Rahman, Founder & Executive Director of GreenTech Foundation Bangladesh, expertly moderated the discussion with his thought leadership. This seminar provided a unique opportunity for participants to gain knowledge, network with key stakeholders, and contribute to shaping Bangladesh's future in the printing, packaging, and plastics sector through sustainable development practices. The event reflects a collective commitment to fostering a green and circular economy in the country.

ShareTrip, a pioneering travel tech company in Bangladesh, has unveiled its latest Seat Selection feature to foster more comfortable and personalised travel experiences. Travellers can now conveniently pick their preferred choice of seats through ShareTrip, and enjoy a cosier journey according to individual preference, said a press release. CSOs demand VAT cancellation as a poverty reduction strategy Frequent travellers often enjoy the advantage of having early access to seat selection, enabling them to secure their favourite seats before other passengers. Whether it is for extra legroom seats, bulkhead seats, or seats near the front of the aircraft – the option to book own preferred seats can be a game-changer. This is why ShareTrip brings the seat selection feature to Bangladesh for the first time as a travel tech platform. Users can easily book their desired spots in advance by heading to the “My Booking” section on the ShareTrip app or website, after completing the review and payment procedures. Afterwards, in the “Seat Details” section, all one has to do is click “Start Selecting Seats” and then pick their desired seats from the available options to maximise their travel experiences. Currently, users can enjoy this seat selection feature on the ShareTrip website specifically for Singapore Airlines. Cautionary monetary policy likely to stabilise forex reserve, contain Inflation: DCCI President “When it comes to air travel, pre-booking seats can significantly impact the overall experience of the journey”, said Nafiz Chowdhury, senior manager of Product, Campaign & Partnership, and Marketing. “By reserving seats in advance, you can ensure a comfortable journey and peace of mind, knowing you have confirmed your favourite seats. As a platform that strives to view consumer convenience with great priority, ShareTrip is delighted to introduce this new feature. We hope our customers will enjoy the unique feature, and cherish their smoother travel experiences”, he added. E-commerce business must be sustained to build Smart Bangladesh: DNCRP DG The service personalisation may require an additional charge. Users can download the ShareTrip app Link, or visit its website for more information, reads the release.