The local currency Taka gained against the UK pound and the euro, while it remained unchanged against the US dollar in the inter-bank money market on Sunday. The UK pound was traded between Tk 99.44 and Tk 101.67 on Sunday against Tk 99.75 and Tk 101.97 on Thursday.

The euro was traded between Tk 84.00 and Tk 86.30 on Sunday against Tk 84.49 and Tk 86.77 on Thursday. The US dollar was traded between Tk 79.70 and Tk 80.65 on the day.   

Islami Bank Bangladesh Chairman Arastoo Khan is seen at a view-exchange meeting organised by the bank at the Islami Bank Tower in the capital on Sunday.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited organised view-exchange meeting on ‘Shariah Awareness’ at Islami Bank Tower in the capital on Sunday.
Deputy managing directors and managers from selected branches of the bank took part in the view-exchange meeting, said a press release.

Arastoo Khan, Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank addressed the programme as chief guest, said a press release

 Presided over by Md. Abdul Hamid Miah, Managing Director and CEO, Professor Syed Ahsanul Alam, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Mufti Sayeed Ahmed, Vice Chairman and Dr.

Mohammad Abdus Samad, Member Secretary of Shariah Supervisory Committee of the bank addressed the programme as special guests.
Md. Shamsul Huda, Executive Vice President and Head of Shariah Secretariat Division conducted the programme.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintains that in the next two years the developing Asian countries will drive the world economy. However, at the same time ADB warned of uncertainties from the United States (US) and Europe. The ADB's flagship Asian Development Outlook said that with China's expansion seen moderating, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam will be behind an expected 5.7 per cent increase in Asia-Pacific gross domestic product (GDP).

The ADB's chief economist, Yasuyuki Sawada, said in a statement that the developing Asia continues to drive the global economy even as the region adjusts to a more consumption-driven economy in the People's Republic of China.
The Manila-based regional ADB also warned that the uncertain outlook in the economy of the US and Europe threw up risks. Expectations are there for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates further this year (2017) as the US economy continues to strengthen - having already been lifted interest rates twice since December 2016. Higher Federal Reserve borrowing costs tend to hit global emerging economies as it means investors withdraw their cash to seek better and safer returns in the US. The ADB said that rising consumer and business confidence and a declining unemployment rate have fuelled the US growth, but uncertainty over future economic policies may test confidence.
The US President Donald Trump's warnings to revise global trade deals are also lingering worries and fuel speculation that he could spark a global trade war. Again, any potential growth was clouded by the uncertainty of Britain's decision to leave the European Union. Sawada, however, added that while uncertain policy changes in advanced economies do pose a risk to the global economic outlook, most economies are well positioned to weather potential short-term shocks.
With India rebounding from demonetisation that temporarily hit the Indian economy, the growth in South Asia is expected to hit 7.0 per cent in 2017 and 7.2 per cent next year 2018, according to ADB. In an effort to tackle widespread corruption and tax evasion Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unleashed chaos late 2016 with a shock move to withdraw high-denomination rupee notes from circulation. The move suppressed cash-intensive economic activity, but that impact is expected to be short lived, according to ADB. Expectations are like that the India's growth is expected to hit 7.4 per cent in 2017 and 7.6 per cent in 2018. 
As for Bangladesh, the foreign observers praise its socio-economic uplift. Danish Development Cooperation Minister Ulla Tornaes, who visited Dhaka on the occasion of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, said "I am highly impressed to see myself the remarkable socio-economic development made by Bangladesh since my first visit to Bangladesh a decade ago". However, Bangladesh official GDP growth rate in fiscal year 2015-2016 was 7.1 per cent while ADB projects 6.9 per cent GDP growth for this fiscal year 2016-2017.

The Wage Earners Welfare Board (WEWB) has provided the Probashi Kallyan Bank (PKB) with Tk 500 million (50 crore) to facilitate conversion of the bank into a scheduled one.

Expatriates Welfare Minister Nurul Islam handed over on Sunday a cheque for the amount of money to PKB Managing Director ANM Masrurul Huda Siraji at the former’s Secretariat office in the city.

The board had earlier provided the PKB with Tk 950 million.

The PKB is required to raise its level of paid-up capital to Tk 4.0 billion (400 crore) before turning into a commercial bank.

The PKB was established in 2010 to provide collateral-free loans to those going abroad with jobs, also to the returnees to help them get jobs back in the country and facilitate remittance by the wage earners.

Currently, the bank receives deposits and gives loans to the migrants and returnees. It also buys and sells foreign currencies.

Arastoo Khan, Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited, addressing at a view exchange meeting with the expatriate Bangladeshis and representatives of different exchange houses in Malaysia at Ankasa Hotel in Kualalumpur, Malaysia recently.