Economy
Shahabuddin Chuppu set to become BD next President
Former chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Muhammad Shahabuddin Chuppu is set to become the 22nd President of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina have nominated former ACC commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu as the party’s presidential candidate.
On behalf of Shahabuddin Chuppu, a delegation of the party led by its General Secretary Obaidul Quader submitted the nomination paper to the Election Commission secretariat on Sunday (February 12) morning.
Freedom fighter Shahabuddin Chuppu is the AL’s advisory council member.
Today is the last day for submitting the nomination papers to Election Commission (EC) for the Presidential election.
Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on February 13 from 10 am, while nomination papers can be withdrawn till 4 pm on February 14.
The 22nd Presidential election will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm on February 19 in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) complex.
The President may hold office for five years from the date of assumption of office.
Incumbent President M Abdul Hamid assumed office on April 24, 2018. Accordingly, his five-year tenure will end on April 23, 2023.

Economy
Bangladesh Records 9.49% Inflation in November

In November, the overall point-to-point inflation rate in the country exhibited a marginal decline to 9.49 percent, attributed primarily to decreases in both food and non-food inflation.
The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reported a general inflation rate of 9.93 percent in October. Specifically, food inflation decreased to 10.76 percent in November from 12.56 percent in October, while non-food inflation saw a slight dip to 8.16 percent from the 8.30 percent recorded in the previous month.
Breaking down the data, the rural areas experienced a slight decrease in the overall inflation rate to 9.62 percent in November, down from 9.99 percent in October. Similarly, urban areas witnessed a decline in the general inflation rate to 9.16 percent in November, compared to 9.72 percent in October.
The national wage index rate for November increased to 7.72 percent, showing a slight uptick from the 7.69 percent reported in October.
Economy
November Sees Dip in Bangladesh’s Monthly Exports Despite Overall Growth

Export earnings for the current fiscal year (FY24) from July to November reached $22,232.28 million, marking a 1.30 percent growth compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
In the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year (FY23), export earnings amounted to $21,946.07 million. However, there was a notable decline in single-month export earnings for November, witnessing a 6.05 percent fall, reaching $4,784.81 million, as opposed to $5,092.56 million in November of the previous year.
The Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector remained the primary contributor to export earnings during July-November, securing $18,835.65 million. Within this category, knitwear exports accounted for $10,989.42 million, followed by woven garments at $7,846.23 million.
Notable performances in other exportable categories during the July-November period include primary commodities at $601.42 million, agriculture products at $420.59 million, manufactured commodities at $21,630.86 million, plastic products at $92.60 million, leather and leather products at $427.02 million, jute and jute goods at $361.91 million, and specialized technologies [remaining text not provided].
Economy
Momen Urges Kosovo to Tap into Skilled Workforce & Import from Key Sectors

The Foreign Minister, in a meeting today with the outgoing Kosovo ambassador Güner Ureya, urged Kosovo to recruit skilled human resources and consider importing high-quality readymade garments and pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. The ambassador paid a farewell call on the Foreign Minister at the foreign ministry this afternoon.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister commended the ambassador for actively advancing bilateral relations and emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people contact for stronger mutual relations. The outgoing envoy, in turn, expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s progress and development across various sectors. Additionally, the envoy briefed the Foreign Minister on the shared interest of business communities in both Bangladesh and Kosovo to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
Discussions also encompassed topics such as women empowerment and the necessity of peace for sustainable development. The outgoing envoy lauded the people, culture, and the beauty of Bangladesh.