Property tax: putting cart before horse
The intent behind the proposed property tax is easy to support and harder to argue against. Expanding the tax base to include property held by wealthy individuals who contribute far less to the exchequer than their assets would warrant is, by any reasonable measure, a step in the right direction....
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Bangladesh's trillion-dollar trilemma
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury recently told parliament that the government has prepared an action plan to build a trillion-dollar economy by 2034. The plan covers investment, employment, exports, remittances, skills development and macroeconomic stability. But the trillion-dollar target is less an economic growth problem than an exchange rate...
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Bridging the digital divide
Digitalisation has been a central theme of Bangladesh's national branding for well over one and a half decades. There has been unreserved national consensus across all political hues on digital transformation. The general expectation therefore is for the optimum utilisation of technology and a steady rise in internet penetration. However,...
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Right to free legal assistance
When justice is unaffordable, marginalised individuals are effectively excluded from the courtroom. To address this systemic inequality, Bangladesh observes National Legal Aid Day every 28 April, reminding the state of its constitutional obligation to ensure equal access to legal protection for all.This observance traces its roots to the Legal Aid...
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Stabilising the cost of living
The persistent rise in the cost of living has quietly become one of the most pressing economic concerns for ordinary citizens. While macroeconomic indicators may suggest resilience, the day-to-day reality for many households tells a different story, one of careful budgeting, reduced consumption and growing uncertainty about the future.Recently, the...
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