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Outstanding loans to the country’s cottage, micro, small and medium enterprise (CMSME) sector fell by 5.15% in the first quarter of 2026 as weak business demand, a liquidity crunch and broader economic uncertainty slowed credit growth. According to Bangladesh Bank’s latest Quarterly Report, outstanding CMSME loans declined to Tk2.98 lakh …

S Alam Group has broken its silence a week after suspending production at all 11 of its factories in Chattogram, saying banking restrictions and policy decisions over the past two years have left it unable to continue operations. In a statement issued yesterday (6 August), the conglomerate said restrictions on …

Polish apparel retailer LPP has denied allegations that it owes outstanding payments to Bangladeshi garment exporters, saying reports of payment arrears are “entirely unfounded”. Responding to an email from The Business Standard, the company said, “LPP settles all obligations to suppliers in Bangladesh on an ongoing basis. Reports of alleged …

Asian stocks were mixed on Friday after US shares pulled back in the previous session, while oil prices climbed more than 1% amid continued uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.3% to 65,500.10, while South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.8% to 6,242.88. Taiwan’s Taiex …

Oil prices extended gains and stocks fell further on Friday amid fading optimism over a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as reports said Iran was planning to block US and Israeli ships from the waterway as part of a deal with Oman. Markets had enjoyed a healthy run-up …