Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday put accent on infrastructure development for tourism growth, saying construction of hotels and motels and improvement of facilities are needed to boost the industry.

Garment exporters have sought assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the recovery of some 1,500 ailing apparel factories.

Tea export to Pakistan is facing a setback as over 2,000 tonnes of tea remained stuck up at different warehouses in Chittagong due to shipment problem.

The government has formed 15 working groups to participate in different meetings of the 5th WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, scheduled to be held this month.

The government will hire a consulting firm to work as the financial advisor of state-owned Rupali Bank for expediting its privatisation process.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Dr Shoaib Ahmed will hold a meeting with the business community of Chittagong today aiming to motivate them to pay value added tax (VAT).

They are EBL Savings Insurance Account, Monthly Deposit Plan and Monthly Income Plan.

The bank took the decision to cut the interest rate recently, says a press release.