Macro
IMF delays fourth tranche of $4.7 billion loan again
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has once again delayed the disbursement of the fourth tranche – amounting to $645 million – of its $4.7 billion loan to Bangladesh, according to Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. The proposal for both the fourth and fifth tranches will now be presented together at the IMF executive board meeting in June, instead of the previously scheduled March meeting, he told journalists following the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at the Ministry of Finance yesterday.
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/imf-delays-fourth-tranche-47-billion-loan-bangladesh-again-1070546

Imports rebound on rising exports, remittances
Bangladesh’s imports have returned to positive territory after two years of decline, driven by higher demand for consumer goods and industrial raw materials to meet the needs of rising exports — a trend an economist views as a sign of an economic turnaround. Imports grew by 3.53 percent year-on-year to $32 billion in the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, rebounding from a 20 percent drop during the same period the previous year. This growth was largely supported by a 30 percent year-on-year surge in imports in December 2024.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/imports-rebound-rising-exports-remittances-3826961

Tax return filings rise 4.11%, but revenue collection declines
Despite three deadline extensions to facilitate taxpayers facing economic challenges, only 3,986,823 taxpayers filed their income tax returns for the 2023-24 tax year, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). While the number of returns filed has increased by 4.11% compared to the previous year, revenue collection has declined by 1.53%. The tax authority noted that although the number of personal income tax return submissions have risen compared to the previous year, a significant portion of the country’s 1.2 crore taxpayer identification number (TIN) holders still fail to comply with the mandatory filing requirement.
https://www.tbsnews.net/nbr/tax-return-filings-rise-411-revenue-collection-declines-1071246

Banking
Loan disbursement via agent banking jumps 56% in Oct-Dec
Loan disbursement through agent banking soared by 56% year-on-year, reaching Tk24,028 crore in the October-December quarter of 2024, driven by enhanced access to finance for rural populations, according to Bangladesh Bank. In comparison, the disbursement during the same period in 2023 was Tk15,407 crore. BRAC Bank leads the loan disbursement chart through agent banking, while Islami Bank ranks first in deposit collection. Meanwhile, deposits and remittance inflows through agents grew by 15.40% and 21.16% respectively, compared to the previous year.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/loan-disbursement-agent-banking-jumps-56-oct-dec-1071216

Banks’ excess liquidity hits Tk 2.15 lakh crore in December
Excess liquidity in the county’s banking sector soared in December as depositors returned their money in banks as confidence crisis had appeared to be eased. Bangladesh Bank data showed that excess liquidity increased to Tk 2,15,002 crore in December from Tk 2,07,623 crore in November and Tk 1,98,544 crore in October.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/banking/257999/banks-excess-liquidity-hits-tk-215-lakh-crore-in-december

Banks reschedule Tk 7,355cr as lenient policy remains
Banks rescheduled Tk 7,355 crore in defaulted loans during July-September period of 2024, with 99 per cent of the rescheduling done by private banks as the Bangladesh Bank chose to retain the previous government’s lenient rescheduling policy. This policy has discouraged capable borrowers from making timely payments, as defaulters continue to benefit from easy restructuring. Of the total Tk 7,355 crore rescheduled in the quarter, private banks accounted for Tk 7,271 crore, state-run banks Tk 56.87 crore and specialised banks Tk 27.19 crore, according to Bangladesh Bank data. Between January and September of 2024, banks rescheduled Tk 20,732 crore in total, with private banks accounting for Tk 17,962 crore, state-run banks Tk 1,650 crore and specialised banks Tk 1,120 crore.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/banking/258174/banks-reschedule-tk-7355cr-as-lenient-policy-remains

Textile
Apparel exports to nontraditional market surge by 6.42pc
Bangladeshi apparel exporters bagged $3.97 billion from the nontraditional market in July-January of the financial year 2024-25, which is 6.42 per cent higher than $3.72 billion in the same period of the previous financial year, according to the data from the Export Promotion Bureau. The exports to the nontraditional market made up a significant 16.84 per cent of Bangladesh’s total RMG exports in the mentioned period. According to the EPB data, Bangladesh exported apparel items worth $23.55 billion to their global export destinations in the July-January FY25. The earnings from woven was $10.86 billion, and knitwear was $12.68 billion.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/apparel/258175/apparel-exports-to-nontraditional-market-surge-by-642pc

Govt to arrange Tk 600cr to clear Beximco workers’ dues
The government will arrange Tk 600 crore to pay the arrears and service benefits to laid-off workers across 16 textile and garment units of the Beximco Group, according to a top official. This decision comes as the previous plan to clear the worker payments by selling Beximco shares is “not possible within a short time,” said AHM Shafiquzzaman, secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. According to the previous timeline, the government was supposed to make a final decision on paying the arrears and service benefits to the 27,000 laid-off workers of Beximco Group by yesterday. However, the deadline has now been extended to February 26, Shafiquzzaman said.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/govt-arrange-tk-600cr-clear-beximco-workers-dues-3826936

Tannery
Footwear sector offers lucrative investment opportunities: BIDA
Referring to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), BIDA said non-leather footwear exports grew by 120 percent over the last decade, far exceeding the 6 percent growth rate of leather footwear during the same period. In the first seven months of FY25, non-leather footwear exports rose by 40.11 percent year-on-year to $318.09 million and are expected to exceed half a billion dollars by the end of the fiscal year.
https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/footwear-sector-offers-lucrative-investment-opportunities-bida-3826941

Stocks
Robi posts 119% profit growth in 2024, proposes record-high dividend
Robi Axiata – Bangladesh’s second-largest mobile network operator – reported its highest-ever profit last year and proposed its largest dividend since its listing in 2020. In 2024, it posted a stellar 119% growth in profit to Tk703 crore, with earnings per share (EPS) at Tk1.34, a significant increase from Tk321 crore in 2023. In a press release, the company stated that economic instability, high inflation, and market disruptions impacted consumer purchasing power. Despite this, Robi increased its dividend payout for 2024, recommending a 15% cash dividend for its shareholders, compared to the 10% cash dividend paid in 2023.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/robi-announces-paying-tk785cr-dividend-2024-1071016

Olympic Industries plans to boost its chocolate production capacity
Olympic Industries, a publicly listed company, plans to invest Tk13.66 crore to boost its chocolate production capacity. The investment will fund importing new, multi-functional machinery for its Lolati factory in Narayanganj. Currently, the company produces a variety of chocolates under several names including Magic Candy, Éclairs and Pulse. As part of its new plan, the company’s board has decided to increase production capacity by 3,300 tonnes annually.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stocks/olympic-industries-plans-boost-its-chocolate-production-capacity-1071241