Macro
Debt-to-revenue ratio rises – Can Bangladesh manage the pressure?
The government’s external debt burden is rising at a pace far
outstripping revenue growth, pushing the debt-to-revenue ratio
dangerously close to the IMF’s 18% threshold by the end of fiscal
2023-24, according to a recent Economic Relations Division (ERD)
report.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/debt-revenue-ratio-rises-canbangladesh-manage-pressure-1058296
VAT from large firms falls Tk402cr in H1 FY25
Value-added tax (VAT) collection from large firms — including
cement, hotels, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, gas, and consumer
goods — saw a year-on-year decline in the first half of FY2024-25
(FY25), a trend that revenue officials say they have not witnessed in
at least a decade, except for the Covid year.
https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/vat-large-firms-falls-tk402cr-h1-fy25-
1058291
Task force proposes infrastructure bonds for sustainable development
The introduction of infrastructure bonds could provide Bangladesh
with a sustainable financing mechanism for large-scale development
projects, according to a report by a task force on economic reforms.
The report highlights infrastructure bonds as a viable alternative to
existing funding models, offering long-term capital mobilisation
through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/infrastructure/task-forceproposes-infrastructure-bonds-sustainable-development-1057746
Half-yearly imports go up by 2.65pc
Bangladesh’s overall imports increased slightly in the first half (H1) of
the current fiscal year ahead of the upcoming Ramadan, with officials
saying the removal of letter of credit (LC) restrictions by the central
bank has played a role in this regard. Actual imports in terms of LC
settlements rose by 2.65 per cent to $34.32 billion during JulyDecember of FY25 from $33.44 billion in the same period of the
previous fiscal year, according to the central bank’s latest statistics.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/first-page/half-yearly
-imports-go-up-by-265pc-1738261447

Banking
Internal recast of scam-hit weak banks, NBFIs imperative
A package remedy is now offered for the rescue of scam-hit weak
lenders through bail-ins like mergers and acquisitions or guaranteed
securities issuance of bank companies to avert printing money
needed to feed them. Officials say a top national intelligence agency
has made the suggestions for the government to take internal recast
scheme for the country’s scam-ridden banks and non-bank financial
institutions in order to make progress in shoring up their overall
operational positions.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/first-page/internalrecast-of-scam-hit-weak-banks-nbfis-imperative-1738346528
Stocks
Square Pharmaceuticals sees 13% profit growth in Jul-Dec
Square Pharmaceuticals, the flagship company of Square Group, has
reported a 12.89% growth in its net profit and a 6% increase in net
revenue for the first half of the current fiscal year, which ended in
December 2024, according to its financial report.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/square-pharmaceuticalssees-13-profit-growth-jul-dec-1057011
Olympic Industries reports 16% revenue surge from Jul-Dec
Olympic Industries, the country’s leading branded biscuit
manufacturer, has reported a 15.89% growth in revenue in the first
half of the current fiscal year compared to the same period of the
previous fiscal year. Its profit grew by 0.93%, reaching Tk116.31
crore, according to its half-yearly financials. Its earnings per share
(EPS) stood at Tk5.82.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/olympic-industries-reports
-16-revenue-surge-jul-dec-1058216
Summit Alliance Port revenue jumps 355% in H1
Summit Alliance Port, a listed entity on the stock market, reported
that its consolidated revenue jumped by 355% in the first half of the
current fiscal year 2024-25, mainly driven by its subsidiary Container
Transportation Services.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/summit-alliance-portrevenue-jumps-355-h1-1058246
ACI’s revenue rises in Q2
ACI Limited, one of the leading conglomerates in the country, saw its
revenue surge in the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 while
its losses declined year-on-year. The company’s revenue rose 13
percent to Tk 3,648 crore in October-December period of FY25,
according to its financial statements.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/acis-revenue-rises-q2-
3813551
MJL Bangladesh to buy 12.5% Omera stake from Dutch FMO for
Tk60cr
MJL Bangladesh, the country’s largest lubricant company, has decided
to purchase a 12.5% stake in Omera Petroleum from Dutch
development bank FMO to strengthen its holdings in the company.
The company will acquire 27,747,917 shares of Omera Petroleum
from FMO at a rate of Tk21.80 per share, subject to regulatory
approval. This means the publicly listed MJL will invest Tk60.49 crore
to acquire FMO’s stake.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/mjl-bangladesh-buy-125-
omera-stake-dutch-fmo-tk60cr-1056941
Escalating costs eat into top-listed steel, cement makers’ profits
Leading companies in the rod and cement sectors have reported a
decline in profits due to rising production costs. Factors such as
increased raw material prices, energy expenses, higher taxes, and
sluggish demand have contributed to the financial strain, impacting
their bottom line in the October-December quarter of the current
fiscal year, according to industry insiders.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/escalating-costs-eat-toplisted-steel-cement-makers-profits-1058206
Best Holdings reports profit plunge
Best Holdings, which has been falling on the Dhaka bourse since
listing, experienced a further decline in profit in October-December
(Q2) of FY25. Its consolidated profit plunged 97 per cent year-onyear in Q2 of FY25. The profit had slumped at the same rate in the
first quarter through September last year to Tk 8.95 million,
compared to the same quarter the year before.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/stock-corporate/best
-holdings-reports-profit-plunge-blames-it-on-political-instability1738260315

Services & Real Estate
Luxury hotels face declining profits in Oct-Dec despite peak season
Despite being in peak season, the profits of four luxury hotel
operators declined or turned into losses during the October–
December quarter of the current fiscal year, largely due to nationwide
political unrest and economic uncertainty during the period.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/luxury-hotels-facedeclining-profits-oct-dec-despite-peak-season-1056991