Recent years have witnessed a surge in the number of fintech loans as an appealing alternative to traditional banking services. Although the coronavirus outbreak has affected the fintech lending industry, the unified market is still expected to maintain steady growth.
Category: Finance
Govt to recoup losses in fisheries and livestock sectors
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim on Sunday said the government will take all necessary steps to recoup the losses, caused by coronavirus outbreak, in the Fisheries and Livestock sector.
UN, partners launch $6.7 bn appeal for vulnerable countries
7 May 2020 – Humanitarians are seeking nearly $7 billion to protect millions of lives and halt the spread of COVID-19 in more than 60 of the world’s most fragile countries.
Need for a new architecture on international public finance
Coventry, United Kingdom, 6 May (Celine Tan) – The COVID-19 pandemic is highlighting the systemic failures of the international framework for development cooperation and international public finance. Based on an outdated, post-war system that is premised on charity, not solidarity,…
Bigwigs to stay involved in govt support for small fries
President of the country’s apex trade organization FBCCI Sheikh Fazle Fahim on Monday said that they would remain involved in the working capital loan/investment disbursement process of the government-announced Tk 20,000 crore financial assistance package for cottage, micro, small and…
$100 million from ADB to support COVID-19 response in BD
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday approved a $100 million loan to support the Government of Bangladesh in its efforts to address the immediate public health requirements of combating the coronavirus pandemic.“ADB stands with Bangladesh in this difficult time…
China to donate $30 million more to WHO
China has decided to give another US$ 30 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) in support of global efforts to fight COVID-19 and the construction of public health systems in developing countries, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Thursday.…
Dhaka for voluntary fund, softer loans among OIC countries
Bangladesh has said the OIC Member States require a regional and global response based on unity, solidarity and compassion to overcome the challenges of this pandemic.
Covid-19: IFAD fund to help check rural food crisis launched
Rome, 20 April 2020 – With the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown threatening the lives and livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable people, the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) today committed US$40 million, and launched an urgent appeal…
Govt spending must target inequalities, not bail out riches
Geneva, 17 Apr (Kanaga Raja) – States need to invest massively in decreasing inequalities and poverty arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and not just bail out large corporations, banks and investors with no human rights or social conditions attached.
WB to launch COVID-19 urgent programs in over 100 countries
The World Bank Group (WBG) is expected to launch health emergency programs in over 100 countries by the end of April to support the fight against COVID-19, with 64 already in operation, President David Malpass said Friday.
UN faces financial & liquidity crisis as pandemic rages
By Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury NEW YORK, Apr 17 2020 (IPS) – The current financial crisis, triggered as a result of withholding or delaying payment of assessed contributions by Member States, is nothing new to the United Nations. We have…
Decisive, collective action must to fight Covid-19: WB, IMF
1. The Development Committee met virtually on Friday, April 17, 2020. 2. Our meeting occurred at a time of unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its devastating effects are being felt across the globe as the human and economic…
South needs $2.5tn support package to deal with Covid-19
Geneva (Kanaga Raja) – A $2.5 trillion support package is needed for developing countries facing unprecedented economic damage from the Covid-19 crisis, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has said. “The economic fallout from the shock is ongoing…
G20 finance ministers for roadmap in response to COVID-19
Riyadh, Xinhua/UNB, April 01 – The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors agreed Tuesday on delivering a roadmap in response to the novel coronavirus.
Fighting coronavirus: It’s time to invest in universal public health
By Isabel Ortiz and Thomas Stubbs NEW YORK and LONDON, Mar 23 2020 (IPS) – Austerity policies pushed by international financial institutions have weakened public health systems, despite current financial support packages, condemning many people to die. As health systems…
Coronavirus: ADB announces $6.5 billion package
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday announced a $6.5 billion initial package to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries (DMCs) as they respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Dhaka nods Tk 17,777-cr Matarbari Deep Sea Port Dev Project
It okays a total of nine projects Dhaka, March 11 – The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday cleared nine projects with an estimated total cost of Tk 24,113.27 crore, including Tk 17,777-crore Matarbari Port Development…
How World Bank arbitrators mugged Pakistan
By Jeffrey D. Sachs Thanks to the World Bank’s flawed and corrupt investment arbitration process, the rich are making a fortune at the expense of poor countries. The latest shakedown is a $5.9 billion award against Pakistan’s government in favor…
SC upholds 20 ILFSL men’s bank accounts, passports seizure
Dhaka, Feb 26 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday upheld a High Court (HC) order directing the government to seize bank accounts and passports of 20 people of the shareholder directors and top executives of…
Govt loss Tk 120bn a year as cable TV operators under-report
The government loses Tk 10,000-12,000 in revenue every year as the cable operators are not digitised their services, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday.
Those who siphon off money are ‘state thugs’: Dr Kamal
Stating that those indulge in money laundering are ‘state thugs’, Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Thursday urged all to get united to establish ‘effective democracy’ in the country to get rid of ‘plundering, fascism and anarchy’.
Financialization increases inequality
Kuala Lumpur/Penang, Feb (IPS/Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Michael Lim Mah Hui) — Financialization has worsened inequality through various channels, including macroeconomic policies. For example, quantitative easing and low, if not negative interest rates have fuelled credit and asset price bubbles,…
UN faces cash crisis in 2020—if member states don’t pay up
By Thalif Deen UN, Jan 22 2020 (IPS) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared last week that the United Nations just “managed to survive its deepest financial crisis in a decade.”
Climate change and financial risk
By Pierpaolo Grippa, Jochen Schmittmann, and Felix Suntheim WASHINGTON DC, Jan 16 2020 (IPS) – Climate change is already a reality. Ever-more-ferocious cyclones and extended droughts lead to the destruction of infrastructure and the disruption of livelihoods and contribute to…
HC makes Ibrahim Khaled director, chairman of ILFSL
Dhaka, Jan 21- To Protect the greater interest of the common shareholders and the depositors of the corporate sector of the country, the High Court has appointed Ibrahim Khaled, former deputy governor of the Bangladesh Bank, as an independent director…
Tea boy loses Tk 65,000 to Bkash scam
Brahmanbaria, Jan 03 – Bkash scammers tricked a tea seller into sending them Tk 65,000 on Thursday night.
Climate financing being undermined by rich nations, NGOs say
By Thalif Deen UN, Dec 11 2019 (IPS) – The successful battle against climate change – which has triggered a rash of natural disasters, including floods, droughts and rising sea levels— will be predicated largely on the availability of financing.
GCF approves $407 mln for climate projects
Songdo, 18 Nov (Indrajit Bose) — The Board of the UNFCCC’s Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved USD 407.8 million to 13 new projects at its 24th meeting in Songdo, South Korea, which included two projects from China and Palestine that…
ODA, blended finance insufficient to achieve SDGs
Geneva, (Kanaga Raja) – Official development assistance (ODA) and blended finance alone are insufficient in both quantum and nature to enable the finance needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development…