BRAC Empowers 4,500 People in Retail Employment

The Shikha project, launched by the European Union and Brac, addresses gender-based violence (GBV) in Bangladesh, where recent studies show alarming rates of harassment: 80% of women in garment factories, 74% of female students, 94% of women using public transport, and 68% of women on online platforms have faced violence.

A study titled "Microfinance Competition in the Presence of Moneylenders: Theory and Evidence" found that the presence of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in rural areas significantly lowers interest rates and reduces reliance on informal moneylenders.

The government has approved a Tk 518.61 crore water treatment plant for the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Chattogram's Mirsharai, with a capacity of 50 million litres per day (expandable to 100 million litres). The project, awarded to a ZHEC-BOW-SMEDRIC joint venture, is set for completion by June 2026.

Bangladesh may lose 4.8% of working hours by 2030 due to heat stress, while 17% of its land could be submerged by 2050, displacing 20 million people, according to a study by FSG. The garments and construction sectors, contributing 34% of GDP and employing 12 million people, generate 15% of national emissions, projected to rise 5% by 2030.

TRANSFORM, an impact accelerator led by Unilever, the UK Government, and EY, announced grants of up to BDT 10 million each for two Bangladeshi SMEs focused on climate resilience.

A proposed hike in gas prices by Petrobangla has sparked major concerns among industrialists in Bangladesh, fearing economic harm. Industrial leaders argue that the increase, if approved, could lead to factory closures, job losses, and reduced industrial output, harming economic growth and potentially causing social unrest.