Rangs and BSRM Investing in Agricultural Processing and Tourism

Islami Bank Bangladesh is facing uncertainty over recovering Tk 8,279 crore provided as liquidity support to  four banks—First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, Social Islami Bank, and Global Islami Bank—and one non-bank financial institution, Aviva Finance. 

In Bangladesh, women are increasingly leading a transformation in agriculture, moving from traditional home management roles to managing small and medium-sized commercial farming enterprises. Over the past decade, women's participation in agriculture has surpassed men's, with a 7-percentage-point higher employment rate in this sector, according to official statistics. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022 reveals that 26.2% of women aged 15 and above are involved in agriculture compared to 19.2% of men.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) benchmark index, DSEX, surged by 500 points in the past month, reaching 5,728.64 on September 4, 2024, up from 5,229.26 on August 4. Turnover increased from Tk 207 crore to Tk 674 crore, peaking at Tk 2,010 crore on August 11. The rise follows political changes and reforms by the interim government, including new leadership at the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

Recent floods in Bangladesh have caused significant agricultural losses estimated at Tk3,346 crore, affecting 1.4 million farmers. The most severe impact was on paddy production, with losses of Tk2,519 crore, and extensive damage to 291,333 hectares of paddy fields and 19,680 hectares of Aman paddy seedbeds.

Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC declared a 350% cash dividend for general shareholders and a 200% cash dividend for sponsors and directors for the financial year 2023-24. General shareholders will receive Tk 35 per share, while sponsors and directors will get Tk 20 per share.

The new board of United Commercial Bank (UCB) has cancelled a Tk 500 million investment plan in a close-ended mutual fund, initially approved by the previous board. The previous board, dominated by the family of former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, was dissolved by the Bangladesh Bank on August 27. The change followed political shifts after the fall of the Hasina-led government. Following the cancellation, UCB's stock rose 1% to Tk 12.30 per share. UCB reported a profit of Tk 1.27 billion for the first six months of 2024.