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Generative AI chatbots capable of writing emails and computer code, translating, organising a trip or coming up with gift ideas are now readily available, prompting some to ask whether human brainpower could suffer for lack of use. A simple natural-language prompt is usually enough to draw a useable response from …

China’s economy grew at its weakest pace in more than three years during the second quarter, data showed Wednesday, missing expectations even as strong exports driven by the global AI boom helped offset trade disruptions caused by the Middle East war. The 4.3 per cent year-on-year expansion reported by the …

The Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority has continued its nationwide training programme on the electronic Government Procurement, e-GP system, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of key public procurement stakeholders. Under a decentralised training strategy, the BPPA is organising e-GP training courses at different venues in Dhaka …

The National Board of Revenue asked the Bangladesh Bank to make value added tax registration, or business identification number, mandatory for opening and operating all business current and short-term deposit accounts as part of efforts to expand the VAT net and increase revenue collection. In a letter sent on Monday, …

US consumer inflation cooled more than expected in June as energy costs fell on a temporary easing of the US-Iran war, government data showed Tuesday, but renewed hostilities could stoke price pressures. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 3.5 percent on a year-on-year basis in June, down from a …

The Jatiya Sangsad yesterday passed the Invest Bangladesh Bill, 2026, paving the way for the creation of the Invest Bangladesh Authority as the country’s single investment promotion agency. The bill, moved by Salahuddin Ahmed, minister in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office and minister for home affairs, was passed by …

Bangladesh Bank eased regulations on external borrowing by fully foreign-owned industrial enterprises, allowing them to access loans from parent companies, associates, and shareholders abroad under a general authorisation framework. According to a circular issued yesterday, eligible manufacturing and service-sector enterprises operating both within and outside specialised zones, including export processing …

Bangladesh’s economy is in crisis due to domestic and external shocks, and graduation from the category of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) this year will worsen the situation due to several risks, according to a government document. The paper identified the risk of disruptions to oil supplies, higher prices amid the …

Bangladesh needs urgent policy reforms to prepare its workforce for the technological and structural changes that will reshape jobs over the next decade, experts said at a global webinar organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). “The world of work is changing. The labour ecosystem is changing, and the …

Bangladesh’s transition to a digital economy is no longer a distant ambition. Mobile financial services, internet banking, e-commerce and instant payments are already changing how millions of people conduct everyday transactions. The introduction of Bangla QR is another important step towards a cash-lite, inclusive and interoperable payment system. Since July …