Macro
Wage growth slips again, squeezing low-income households
Wage growth slowed in February and was outpaced by inflation for the 37th consecutive month, further eroding real incomes and making low-income groups increasingly vulnerable amid rising costs of living. According to the Wage Rate Index (WRI) of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) — which tracks the wages of informal workers paid daily across 63 occupations in the agriculture, industry, and service sectors — the wage rate grew 8.12 percent in February, down from 8.16 percent a month earlier.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/wage-growth-slips-again-squeezing-low-income-households-3844536

Japan lending Bangladesh $581 million
Japan is going to lend Bangladesh US$581 million for improving power generation and ensuring food safety, officials said Monday, in aid to the interim government. The Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and Japan are likely to sign two loan deals on March 25 to this effect MoF officials said.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/japan-lending-bangladesh-581-million-1741631092

Agri product exports grow 10.25pc
The export of the agricultural products witnessed a positive growth of 10.25 per cent to $742.47 million year-on-year in the July-February period of the current financial year. During the past eight months, export earnings from agricultural products were $673.44 million in the mentioned period of the previous fiscal, according to the Export Promotion Bureau data released on March 4.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/trade-commerce/259808/agri-product-exports-grow-1025pc

Delay of LDC graduation sought
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry have urged for deferring Bangladesh’s LDC graduation for at least 2 to 3 years, considering the prevailing global and local economic challenges, including a shortage of energy, high inflation, high interest rates and complexities in obtaining credit from banks.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/mis/259805/delay-of-ldc-graduation-sought

BB governor to visit UK for asset recovery
Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Ahsan H Mansur will visit the United Kingdom (UK) as a part of efforts to recover laundered assets. The information was disclosed by Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser (CA) Shafiqul Alam in a press briefing following a high-level meeting yesterday.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/bb-governor-visit-uk-asset-recovery-3844556

Bank
Cenbank eases exit policy for loan recovery, lowers down payment to 5%
Primary dealer (PD) banks come under a major regulatory move as the central bank has decided to discard the assured liquidity support (ALS) for them, officials said. Officials concerned at the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said the central bank introduced this liquidity-feeding window only for the PD banks in 2008 as they have the underwriting obligation to devolve any unsubscribed bidding in the auctions of government securities (G-Sec).
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/cenbank-eases-exit-policy-loan-recovery-lowers-down-payment-5-1089356

BB decides to end assured liquidity support for PD banks
Primary dealer (PD) banks come under a major regulatory move as the central bank has decided to discard the assured liquidity support (ALS) for them, officials said. Officials concerned at the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said the central bank introduced this liquidity-feeding window only for the PD banks in 2008 as they have the underwriting obligation to devolve any unsubscribed bidding in the auctions of government securities (G-Sec).
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/bb-decides-to-end-assured-liquidity-support-for-pd-banks-1741631414

Fuel & Power
US oil major plans expanding hold on BD gas blocks
US oil-major Chevron bids for developing Bangladesh’s onshore hydrocarbons block-11 and attain exploration rights over an extended area of block-12 to discover fresh gas to help the country mitigate energy crisis. The oil-gas blocks are situated in gas-rich Surma Basin of the country’s northeastern region that contributes much of the fossil fuel in the national gas grid.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/us-oil-major-plans-expanding-hold-on-bd-gas-blocks-1741631054

Stocks
Square Pharma chairman to buy over Tk 32cr shares
Samuel S Chowdhury, chairman of Square Pharmaceuticals, yesterday expressed his willingness to purchase 15 lakh shares of the company, valued at over Tk 32 crore at the current market price. Also a sponsor of the company, Samuel plans to acquire the shares at the prevailing market price in both the public and block markets through the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) within the next 30 working days, Square Pharmaceuticals said in a disclosure on the premier bourse’s website.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/square-pharma-chairman-buy-over-tk-32cr-shares-3843946