Shadow banking products

                                                                                               Mujib Borsho and Ashrayan Project: A Dream

Bangladesh government has set a target in Mujib Borsho that not a single person will remain without address or home. Government will ensure an address for everyone under Ashrayan Project. Bangladesh government would ensure accommodation for all marking Mujib Borsho. The government has built 66,189 houses at a cost of Taka 1,168 crore for homeless people on the occasion of Mujib Borsho. Each of the houses was built on two decimals of land having two rooms, one corridor and one latrine alongside connection of electricity and water. The residents of the houses will be given necessary training to ensure their earnings and after completion of the training they will get a loan from the government. Besides, the Ashrayan Project under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) rehabilitated 3,715 families by constructing 743 barracks under 44 project villages in 36 upazilas in 21 districts during Mujib Borsho. The Ashrayan Project has prepared a list of 885,622 families in 2020, including 293,361 landless and homeless families, and 592.261 families having 1- 10 decimal land but no housing facility.

                                                                                                Consumer rights and responsibilities

Consumer rights are a set of rights governed by the law that gives allows customers to have the necessary information about goods and services while purchasing. Similarly, consumer responsibilities indicate that customers have a specific responsibility towards the society and other consumers and help them to fight against the unfair practice or at least be aware of it. These rights and responsibilities are registered under the Consumer Protection Act 1986. 

Consumer Rights 

• Right to Safety- Before buying, a consumer can insist on the quality and guarantee of the goods. They should ideally purchase a certified product like ISI or AGMARK. 
• Right to Choose- Consumer should have the right to choose from a variety of goods and in a competitive price 
• Right to be informed- The buyers should be informed with all the necessary details of the product, make her/him act wise, and change the buying decision.
• Right to Consumer Education- Consumer should be aware of his/her rights and avoid exploitation. Ignorance can cost them more.
• Right to be heard- This means the consumer will get due attention to express their grievances at a suitable forum.. 
• Right to seek compensation- The defines that the consumer has the right to seek redress against unfair and cruel practices or exploitation of the consumer. 

Consumer Responsibilities 

• Responsibility to be aware - A consumer has to be mindful of the safety and quality of products and services before purchasing. 
• Responsibility to think independently- Consumer should be well concerned about what they want and need and therefore make independent choices. 
• Responsibility to speak out- Buyer should be fearless to speak out their grievances and tell traders what they exactly want. 
• Responsibility to complain- It's consumer responsibility to express and file a complaint about their dissatisfaction with goods or services in a sincere and fair manner. 
• Responsibility to be an Ethical Consumer- They should be fair and not engage themselves with any deceptive practice.

                                                                                                                              Zero-coupon bond

A zero-coupon bond is a debt instrument that does not pay interim coupons but instead trades at a deep discount, rendering profit at maturity, when the bond is redeemed for its full face value. Nagad, which acts as the main agent for mobile financial services (MFS) of Bangladesh Postal Office (BPO), plans to raise Tk 500 crore through a zero-coupon bond to pay its loans, develop networks and buy IT equipment for business expansion. The company said investors of the bond would get Tk 750 crore at the end of its five-year maturity period. With a paid up capital of Tk 3.5 crore. Nagad wants to raise the capital to pay off existing debts, support capital expenditure and meet working capital requirements to expand its business in the MFS sector, which has been growing fast since it was launched in Bangladesh in 2011.

                                                                                                   Dhaka International Investment Summit 2021

The two-day International Investment Summit 2021 was held in the capital on 28 November 2021 to brand new Bangladesh among the investors of the world. Some 2,574 participants have registered to attend the summit hosted by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka. At least 465 foreigners representing their countries or international investment firms joined the event on 28 November 2021. The main objective of the summit is to brand new Bangladesh among the investors of the world. The new face of Bangladesh's economy is still unknown to many in the world and the investment promotion programs are helping them to learn about the economy and the investment opportunities in a wide range of sectors in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is receiving an increasing interest of investors from an expanding, range of countries considered to be potential sources of investments. The outcome of that should be reflected in the coming years. The country's increasing investment competitiveness, improving business environment, the opportunities the 100 special economic zones are creating would be communicated with the potential investors alongside the great rise story of the Bangladesh economy.