By Saida Ali NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 2020 (IPS) – When I was a little girl, my mother told us the story of a woman who escaped from a monster by cooking stones: when the monster fell asleep waiting for…
Category: Economy
Economic activities have to be resumed for livelihoods: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said economic activities have to be resumed for the sake of the lives and livelihoods of people.
Over half of returnee migrants in need of support now: Brac
A survey released by Bangladesh-based international development organization Brac on Friday reveals 87 percent of the country’s returnee migrants- amid the COVID-19 pandemic – are still struggling without any source of income in their changed circumstances.
NEC approves Tk 2.05 trillion ADP for 2020-21
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Tuesday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) involving Tk 205,145 crore for the 2020-21 fiscal year with focus on transport, education, health and agriculture sectors.
Coronavirus leads to nosedive in Latin America remittances
By Humberto Márquez CARACAS, May 18 2020 (IPS) – Remittances that support millions of households in Latin America and the Caribbean have plunged as family members lose jobs and income in their host countries, with entire families sliding back into…
PM launches cash disbursement for 5m poor families
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated the disbursement of Tk 1,250 crore cash aid for five million poor families hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Global economy to shrink by 3.2pc: UN report
Dhaka, May 14 – The world economy has been projected to shrink by 3.2 percent wiping out nearly four years of output gains as economic activities around the world comes to grinding halt against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic,…
Land tax payment deadline extended till June 15
The Land Ministry has further extended the deadline for paying the current year’s land development tax till June 15 amid the coronavirus outbreak. The ministry issued an order on Wednesday in this regard, said a press release. According to the…
63% coastal poor households borrow loan from local lenders
A recent survey finds that about 63% of coastal poor households have borrowed loan from local money lenders at high-interest rates due to absent of institutional credit facilities. The survey also finds 57% of households are suffering from food crisis…
Planning Commission finalises Tk 2 trillion ADP
The Planning Commission on Monday finalised the annual development programme (ADP) involving Tk 205,145 crore for the next 2020-21 fiscal year.
German court decision ends treaty pretences
by John Weeks on 11th May 2020 @johnweeks41 With ‘coronabonds’ stymied, an exit from the crisis had depended on ECB monetary operations—until the German constitutional court weighed in. On May 5th the German constitutional court issued a ruling likely to…
Stop sacking media staffs and pay arrears: Info Minister
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday requested the owners of media houses to stop sacking their employees and pay their arrear salary and allowances.
Health sector ADP outlay to go up only Tk 800cr next fiscal
Bangladesh’s health sector is likely to witness an increased amount of only Tk 800 crore, the lowest monetary allocation in terms of increase, in the upcoming annual development programme (ADP) for the 2020-21 fiscal year, official sources said.
Expediate VAT collection: NBR asks field offices
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday asked its field offices to formulate a strategy keeping in mind the present condition and expedite the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) and thus achieve the revised revenue collection target. “We’re…
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.
Govt trying to reopen some sectors gradually: PM
Mentioning that people are suffering a lot due to the COVID-19 shutdown, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the government is trying to reopen some sectors gradually so that the poor can earn their livelihoods.
Gausia market workers stage protest demanding arrears
Shop employees of Gausia market staged demonstrations and blocked Mirpur Road for an hour on Sunday demanding their arrears.
Black Americans bearing the brunt of coronavirus recession
May 10 2020 (IPS) – As the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in April, many Americans were shocked by the extent that black Americans were being disproportionately impacted: higher infection rates, more deaths and greater job loss.
Business Leaders Commit to a Clean Economic Recovery
By Bertrand Piccard LAUSANNE – The COVID-19 crisis is far from over. Yet, even as people continue to transmit the coronavirus and the death toll mounts remorselessly, pressure for a return to normal is already growing in some quarters.
Budget should no more allow black money whitening: CPD
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Saturday recommended raising the tax-free income threshold level from Tk 250,000 to Tk 350,000 and not keeping the provision of black money whitening facility in the national budget for 2020-‘21 fiscal year.
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,…
Basic income: Finland’s final verdict
by Philippe van Parijs on 7th May 2020 @pvpbrussels The coronavirus crisis has renewed interest in the notion of a universal basic income. The full report of a two-year Finnish experiment has just appeared.
Overconsumption, globalised supply chain and Covid-19 crisis
by Meadhbh Bolger on 6th May 2020 @MeadhbhBolger We must build back more resilient, just societies that consume within ecological limits. The immediate response to the Covid-19 crisis must continue to be saving lives, preventing the further spread of the…
Covid-19 fallout: Next budget to focus on agri, health areas
Dhaka, May 06 – The government is likely to go for a strategic ‘recovery plan’ in the next budget (2020-19) with a greater focus on agriculture and health sectors to revive the national economy hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak.
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…
Padma Bridge’s 29th span installed; 4.35 km now visible
Dhaka, May 4: About 4,350 metres of Padma Bridge has become visible with the installation of its 29th span on Monday.
Nearly half of global workforce impacted by COVID-19: ILO
Geneva, (Kanaga Raja) – Almost 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy – nearly half of the global workforce – have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown measures and/or are working in the hardest-hit sectors, the International…
Unions’ responses to the Covid-19 crisis in Europe
by Chiara Benassi on 1st May 2020 @chiarabenax On International Workers’ Day, it is important to recall the crucial role played by unions in protecting the workforce, especially at times of crisis. The Covid-19 crisis is having a huge impact…
The crises of 2020 will delay the transition to clean energy
By Humberto Márquez CARACAS, Apr 29 2020 (IPS) – The oil slump, global recession and uncertainty about the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic will fuel the appetite for cheaper fossil fuel energy and delay investments in renewables, affecting the targets…