Macro
Govt forms body to outline action plan for non-RMG export boost
The finance ministry is formulating an action plan to identify
additional forms of support, beyond cash incentives, to enhance the
export capacity of key sectors other than ready-made garments. The
ministry has formed an inter-ministerial committee to develop action
plans and platforms to boost the export capacity of leather, jute,
agriculture, processed agricultural products, and pharmaceutical
sectors.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/committee-formed-formulateaction-plan-increase-export-capacity-different-sectors-1066586
NBR attains 26% growth in VAT registration in last 6 months
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has attained a 26% growth in
providing VAT registrations over the last six months. The current
Chairman of the NBR has taken various exceptional initiatives to
include new VAT payers in the VAT net as well as widening it as per
the Value Added Tax (VAT) and Supplementary Duty Act, reads an
NBR press statement issued yesterday (11 February). It said the
number of VAT registrations in August 2024 was 4,228 which was
5,644 in August 2023 having a negative growth of 25% due to the
impact of July-August.
https://www.tbsnews .net/nbr/nbr -attains-26pc-growth-vatregistration-last-6-months-1066686
Capital Market
Stricter conditions proposed for margin loans
A government-formed taskforce for capital market reforms has
proposed a host of amendments to margin loan rules, including new
eligibility criteria. An investor must have a minimum equity of Tk 10
lakh alongside six months’ experience in secondary market trading to
be able to purchase stocks with money borrowed from brokers
against securities as collateral. Moreover, to ensure responsible
lending, institutions providing margin loans must conduct mandatory
risk profiling before approving financing.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/stricter-conditionsproposed-margin-loans-3822146
Task force recommends no further extension for closed-end mutual
funds
The task force for capital market reform has proposed that closed-end
mutual funds, which have completed their initial 10-year tenure and
were extended for another 10 years, must be liquidated once the
extended period ends. The task force recommended including this
restriction in the upcoming Bangladesh Mutual Fund Regulations,
2025, according to the BSEC.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/task-force-recommendsno-further-extension-closed-end-mutual-funds-1066856

Stocks
Reliance Insurance earns record profit on high premium income
Reliance Insurance secured a record profit in 2024, supported by
higher premium income and investment return, in a challenging
business climate. The insurer’s profit jumped 39 per cent year-onyear to Tk 959 million in 2024, the highest since its listing in the
stock market in 1995. Accordingly, its earnings per share rose to Tk
9.12 in 2024 from Tk 6.56 the year before.
https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/stock-corporate/relianceinsurance-earns-record-profit-on-high-premium-income-1739296028