Shaping Bangladesh's technology policy

Standard economic theory suggests that for developing countries far away from the fast-expanding technological frontiers, "catch-up growth" is the only viable option to secure long-run growth. According to this view, no matter how poor a country is, if it adopts...

Beyond political democracy

The notion of democracy is traditionally interpreted and analysed in the political domain, in terms of democratic spaces, voice and autonomy of the people, political parties, people's participation, free and fair elections, existence of civil society, etc. Thus, the idea...

IMF loan conditionalities and unmet objectives

Bangladesh signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loans valued at US$4.7 billion under different programmes on January 30, 2023. These loans were to be given out in several tranches over 42 months. The total loan amount...

ADB urges completion of stalled BRT project

Development partners of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project have urged the government to complete the long-delayed 20.5-kilometre dedicated bus corridor, highlighting its wider benefits for urban mobility and its strong economic potential. They argue that with over US$250 million...

UN chief urges faster shift to renewables to avoid climate disaster

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the global energy landscape is changing at lightning speed, with renewable energy leading the way. Speaking at the Energy Transition Roundtable during the Belém Climate Summit on November 7, he said last...

New ICT projects look foredoomed like forerunners

Three new ICT-sector development projects involving Tk 46.33 billion have been proposed all of which are lookalikes of previous ones allegedly doomed to failure in set goals for corruption, misuse of public funds.Officials at the Planning Commission hold such view...

Experts push for discounted shares for general investors

As the central bank moves forward with the merger of five troubled Islamic banks, general shareholders of these listed banks should either be offered shares of the merged entity or allowed to subscribe to its shares at a discounted price.This...

India's CVD probe into BD jute product imports faces setback

India's investigation into imposing a countervailing duty (CVD) on Bangladeshi jute product imports has hit a procedural snag, with Bangladesh seeking an extra 30 days to submit its questionnaire responses, sources said.The commerce ministry has requested the Bangladesh High Commission...

The rise of micro-influencers in a post-TV world

The days of catchy television jingles and glossy newspaper advertisements pulling in crowds are long gone. Today's consumers scroll endlessly, swipe constantly, and ignore traditional ads faster than ever, creating a massive shift in how marketing works. With digital platforms...

Overstress on classroom study makes learning dull

The global educational landscape has undergone a profound transformation, moving decisively away from rote-learning systems to a creative, student-centric pedagogical methods that promote holistic child development. This global shift prioritises teaching methodologies that nurture essential 21st-century skills such as critical...

Global FDI and Bangladesh

The decline in global foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of the current year is not unexpected, even if it is undesirable. A tariff war initiated by US President Donald Trump has intensified global trade tensions in the...

Digital push aims to revolutionise land management

The government has taken initiatives to make Bangladesh's digital land management system more transparent, accountable, and accessible to citizens. As part of that, the land ministry has undertaken a project titled "Establishment of Digital Land Management System (EDLMS)" to digitise...

More than $5.5 billion announced for TFFF

During a lunch at the Belém Climate Summit, President Lula received leaders from over 30 countries, the UN Secretary-General, and a representative from the World Bank on Friday at the COP30 Leader's Summit, in Belém.The Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF)...

Major solar power plant to replace coal-based one at Matarbari

A major 430-megawatt grid-tied solar-power plant is being established at Matarbari in Cox's Bazar instead of planned coal-fired facilities at the seaside transport-economic hub.Officials say Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) has decided to conduct detailed feasibility study, including...

BD pursues two-dozen plans to secure duty-free mkt access

Bangladesh pursues over two-dozen plans to secure duty-free market access to major trade-partner countries for effective graduation from least-developed country (LDC) status, sources say.The ministry of commerce (MoC) has sketched out the sweeping, time-bound action plan under Monitoring and Evaluation...

Proparco deepens private sector engagement in Bangladesh

Proparco, the private sector arm of the French government's development agency AFD Group, is stepping up its engagement in Bangladesh, with investments and technical assistance worth over US$162 million channelled into private enterprises over the past 12 years. "We want...

Govt's push for e-GP faces setback as TCB seeks to use manual system

The government's decade-long efforts to bring transparency to public spending is facing a setback, as the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has requested an exemption from the newly introduced mandatory electronic government procurement (e-GP) system.Instead, the state-owned agency has sought...

Re-engineering in internal audit operations

Bangladesh has come a long way in economic growth since 1972. In 1972, the gross domestic product (GDP) was US$ 5.70 billion where as in 2025 it stands at US$ 475.00 billion. Contribution to GDP from the services sector is...

Three-dimensional connectedness is the clinching factor

That a nation's close relationship or the lack of it with Nature can be a subject of study is somewhat surprising, especially when Western researchers embark on exploring nations' comparative connectedness to natural environment. To the oriental civilisations, particularly that...

Weather (2025-11-07)

Rain/ thunder showers is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours from 06:00 am today (Friday), according to the Met Office. The highest temperature in the country on Thursday...

Ancillaries receive most allocation

Most money for a World Bank-funded development project for Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has been allocated for operational expenses on ancillaries that range from toiletries to foreign trainings, raising questions about justification. On the wish-list are toilet tissues, toilet...

BB's NAV disclosure contradicts Islamic banks' claims

There is a huge gap in the net asset value (NAV) between what the troubled Islamic banks reported in their latest financial statements and what the Bangladesh Bank announced when it dissolved their boards on Wednesday.BB Governor Ahsan H. Mansur,...

Return back to Nature ensures survival of human race

Nepal has emerged as the most Nature-connected nation in the world, according to a research, first of its kind, conducted by academics from Britain and Austria. Involved with the ground-breaking research was Miles Richardson, a famed professor of Nature connectedness...

BRAC Bank may withdraw from custodianship of 60 mutual funds. Here's why

BRAC Bank is considering gradually withdrawing custodianship from 60 mutual funds (MFs) if it does not get its authority strengthened over the management of assets in the funds' portfolios.It has come to this position following bitter experiences regarding the alleged...

Govt moves to digitise all land deeds

The government has moved to preserve all registered land deeds in a digital system as part of a major initiative to curb land-related fraud and forgery.A senior official at the Ministry of Land (MoL) said the process has begun to...

Next government to decide BRT project's fate

The final decision on the fate of the troubled Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is likely to be taken by the next government as closing it midway will create more complexities in the present context, sources say.Though the government has...

NBR rules out mid-yr tax hike before polls

The government has firmly told the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will not impose any new tax or raise the rate of existing ones before the next national budget that will be prepared under a new government.Officials said the...

NBR wants same fees for Bhutan's transit trial as Indian cargo

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has proposed applying same fees and charges that are levied on Indian cargo for Bhutan's first transit trial through Bangladesh, officials said.The revenue board this week sought opinion from the Finance Division on whether...

Election campaigning must go green

Candidates from different political parties for the 13th parliamentary elections have already started trying to make their presence felt, even before announcement of election schedules by the Election Commission. They are quite eager to reach the voters, and their supporters...

Inflation & wage dynamics in BD

Bangladesh Bank, as a forward-looking central bank, is dedicated to maintaining price stability and a robust financial system by promoting inclusive and broad-based economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction. A sound comprehension of the fundamental elements that influence price...