The genesis of The Business Post

We are now finally up for a trendsetting mission in financial journalism from today although the journey was originally planned in the middle of last year.
The Covid-19 pandemic led to a delayed start, but could not halt our voyage.
The launch of The Business Post amid the upsurge of the deadly virus is definitely a daunting task for our media crews involved in the publication.
Braving all odds associated with the ravaging economy both at home and abroad in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and defying the red signal of dwindling printed newspaper readers and resurgent competitors, the emergence of The Business Post will usher in a new era in the field of financial journalism of the country.
Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, I hope Bangladesh will beat coronavirus with a massive inoculation programme being underway.

The sputtering economy will kick start soon. Resilience of our industrialists – big or small –farmers and Bangladeshi expatriates living abroad are the core strength of the country’s economy that is very likely to make a post-Covid comeback.
I am hopeful of a quick economic turnaround in the days to come.
Similarly, I am optimistic of achieving the targets set in the Eighth Five-Year Plan, Vision 2041 and the implementation of the Perspective Plan 2021-2041 – all aiming to lift the nation from an agrarian economy towards a more modern economy based on manufacturing and services that will lead to an upper middle-income country status by 2031.
The Business Post will adhere to strict professionalism, maintain the highest degree of objectivity and supplement the efforts of our industrialists and businesses as a whole to grow.

In addition, the insightful news and articles of ours will assist policymakers in framing pro-business policies.
One may question the rational of a new financial daily considering that the country has already more than one such a daily.
My humble argument in this regard being that we are keen to make a difference in terms of sheer professionalism and in-depth coverage of news and events – a characteristic that will speak for us.
Besides, ours is one of the fastest growing economies in the globe, with the size of economy and per-capita income being on an upward trajectory for decades.

The budget size which was only Tk 42,306 crore in Fiscal Year 2001-2002 went up over Tk 6 lakh core in the current fiscal. So are the development expenditure and revenue income.
With 100 special economic zones being in the process of alluring multi-billion local and foreign investments in the country, Bangladesh is going to be an investment hotspot in Asia.
I am optimistic of an enhanced business activity in the days to come that justifies having another insightful financial broadsheet to supplement the efforts of businesses.

In addition, The Business Post will keep contributing to the cause of expanding business and investment through its strenuous efforts to hold out transparent views at all levels of commerce and economy.
Promoting and encouraging new business ventures with minimal bureaucratic hassles will get priority in our editorial policy.
I strongly believe that small and medium enterprises have been creating the lion’s share of employments in the country.
They falter for lack of adequate policy support, suffer due to lack of access to financial assistance and hobble for dearth of expertise and creaky infrastructure.

We want to stand by them with policy advocacy and partnership.
Amid the corona emergency, businesses now need to adopt a new approach to financial planning and performance management—one that informs rapid realignment of plans and actions and ensures organizational sustainability.
Clearly, our corporates need to make a paradigm shift to their existing plans and assumptions in the light of the rapidly changing global health situation, which is creating an uneven economic effect across the board.

A better financial understanding can be achieved when realistic financial goals are set, the effects of decisions understood, and results reviewed.
We firmly believe that the stimulus packages offered by the government through the Bangladesh Bank have been enormously providing a cushion to the country’s battered economy caused by the pandemic.
This generous offer should be broadened to include some more ravaged sectors such as tourism and aviation, small businesses and start-ups with zero interest rate bank loan facility, given the extent of pandemic effect.
Besides, the government handouts must target urban and rural poor, day labourers, slum dwellers, retrenched and furloughed factory workers and office employees.

We, through our daily publication, will keep urging the government for pro-poor emergency programmes through different social safety-net schemes.
The Business Post will side with the industrialists, the employers and the investors evenly. We will always raise our voice against all industrial oppressions and stand by the commoners.
Our farmers, day labourers and the Bangladeshi diaspora are the integral part of our economy, spurring the engine of growth.
We have accommodated best available financial journalists in the country for our daily. They are committed to facts, motivated by passion, honest in attitude and focused on their assignment.

Our team will maintain the core values of the press which is considered one of the best professions in the world.
Please read our daily, get informed and grow with cognizance.
We are also having a most dynamic online version of The Business Post to keep you updated with the latest news and e-paper -- www.businesspostbd.com.

I extend my heartiest thanks to our advertisers who have contributed to the inaugural issue despite the trying times of doing business.