Macro
January inflation slips below double-digit level to 9.94pc
Overall inflation dropped to 9.94 per cent in January as cheaper
winter vegetables tamed its rate but food inflation yet stayed high
pushed by pricey staples. A decline of approximately 1.0-percentage
point from the December rate took the overall inflation down doubledigit level last month, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) revealed
Tuesday.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/first-page/january-inflationslips-below-double-digit-level-to-994pc-1738694170
External deficit falls 89% in H1 of FY25 despite instability
Bangladesh’s overall balance of payment (BoP) deficit dropped by
nearly 89% in the first half of FY25 compared to the same period last
fiscal year, according to Bangladesh Bank data. The overall deficit in
the balance of payments – also known as the external balance –
stood at $384 million in July-December of FY25, a sharp decline from
$3.45 billion in the corresponding period of FY24 – reflecting an
improvement of approximately $3.07 billion.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/external-deficit-falls-89-h1-fy25-
despite-instability-1061236
Fuel & Power
Govt to clear gas, power dues in FY25 with unspent ADP funds
The finance ministry has decided to clear all gas and electricity sector
arrears within the current fiscal year by increasing the revised Annual
Development Programme (ADP) outlay by reallocating unspent funds
in the sector. Finance Division officials said the ADP budget for FY25
is Tk2.78 lakh crore, with Tk50,000 crore spent in the first six
months.
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/energy/govt-clear-gas-powerdues-fy25-unspent-adp-funds-1061231
Intraco’s gas allocation cut to one-fifth over deal breach
The government has cut natural gas allocation for Intraco Refueling
Station to one-fifth as the company failed to supply the committed
volume of compressed natural gas (CNG) from Bhola. As a result, the
company will be able to compress up to 5.0 million cubic feet per day
(mmcfd) of gas under its existing deal with the state-run Sundarban
Gas Company Ltd (SGCL). Intraco inked the 10-year deal with SGCL
in May 2023 to supply gas from Bhola to the gas-starved industries in
Dhaka and its adjacent areas.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/last-page/intracos-gasallocation-cut-to-one-fifth-over-deal-breach-1738693190
Engineering
Sales of trucks rebound on pent-up demand
Even amid a business slowdown, sales of heavy-duty trucks and
covered vans showed a year-on-year increase last year, according to
company and vehicle registration data, as commercial vehicle
distributors attribute this rise to pent-up demand since the pandemic.
Industry insiders also link this resurgence to the usual fleet
replacement cycle, as transport operators upgraded their ageing
vehicles rather than expanding their fleets amid economic
uncertainties.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/sales-trucks-reboundpent-demand-3816406
Cement
Steel, cement makers witness drops in Q2 profits
Major listed construction-related firms witnessed a massive year-onyear drop in profits during the October-December period of the
current fiscal year of 2024-25. This was mainly due to a rise in raw
material costs and a drop in government spending on infrastructure
projects amid macroeconomic challenges.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/steel-cement-makerswitness-drop-q2-profits-3816421

Textiles
Safko Spinning still closed 7 months after scheduled reopening
Safko Spinning Mills – which was scheduled to resume production in
July last year after a four-month closure – was still found closed
during a Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) inspection this week. The
cotton and polyester yarn manufacturer initially shut down its factory
in February last year for two months, later extending the closure for
another two months, with plans to resume operations in July.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/safko-spinning-still-closed7-months-after-scheduled-reopening-1061196

Stocks
GP announces highest-ever dividend for 2024
Grameenphone (GP) on Monday (3 February) announced to pay the
highest-ever 330% cash dividends or Tk33 per share for the
challenging business year 2024. Already paying an interim dividend of
Tk16 per share, it will give further Tk17 for the past year, according
to the company statements to shareholders.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/gp-declares-170-cashdividend-1060401
Three more firms downgraded to Z category over dividend failures,
total reaches 94
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has downgraded three more
companies to the Z category for failing to distribute approved
dividends within the stipulated time frame. The companies are
Bangladesh Building Systems, Rahima Food Corporation, and Beacon
Pharmaceuticals.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/three-more-firmsdowngraded-z-category-over-dividend-failures-total-reaches-94