Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh’s macroeconomic recovery and stability have contributed to an upward trend in the capital market over the past few weeks.
The benchmark index of the capital market extended its gaining streak for three consecutive weeks, spurred by investor interest in stocks with favourable earnings reports for the recently concluded quarter. This week, the market gained 89.48 points, reaching 5,355, reflecting a 1.70 per cent increase in the broad index. Market participation was recorded at 8.55 per cent, with the average daily turnover amounting to Tk 5.54 billion (Tk 554 crore).
In response to surging food inflation, the interim government and Bangladesh Bank have implemented measures to ease commodity imports and stabilise staple food supplies. These include temporarily removing the letter of credit (LC) margin on essential imports such as edible oil, sugar, and chickpeas, and exempting commodity importers from the 25 per cent single-borrower exposure limit until Ramadan.
Despite these efforts, significant economic challenges persist. Among them are costly and environmentally harmful LNG power projects, projected to cost $50 billion, which also raise concerns about public health risks.
To support low-income households, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh plans to sell essential food commodities at subsidised rates to one crore families through smart cards, starting in January.
The country’s foreign exchange reserves briefly surpassed the $20 billion mark, buoyed by substantial remittance inflows. However, reserves dipped below this threshold following a $1.5 billion payment to the Asian Clearing Union.
Export earnings for October showed a robust growth of 20.65 per cent, driven by the readymade garments sector, despite ongoing labour unrest.
In the overseas employment sector, Saudi Arabia has begun recruiting Bangladeshi nurses, marking a shift towards higher-skilled labour exports.
The interim government has also revised its ambitious plan to develop 100 economic zones, prioritising a smaller number of zones with defined timelines for completion.
Businesses, however, continue to grapple with high interest rates, as the central bank defends its tight monetary policy as essential to combating inflation.
Foreign aid for development projects is under review, with potential cuts being considered due to delays in project implementation by public agencies.In the banking sector, the Bangladesh Bank is preparing a “Bank Resolution Act” to facilitate mergers, acquisitions, and recapitalisations, aiming to address systemic weaknesses and enhance financial stability.
These developments reflect a complex economic landscape, with both positive strides and ongoing challenges shaping Bangladesh’s path to sustained recovery and growth.