The death of Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday, December 30, is an irreparable loss to the nation at a moment when it is at a critical juncture. In fact, this is no eulogy to her memory to say that Khaleda Zia was the first elected female prime minister of the country or that she was elected prime minist
Since Bangladesh met all three criteria, namely, per capita Gross National Income (GNI), the Human Asset Index (HAI) and the Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI), required to qualify for graduation from the LDC category during the 2018 and 2021 reviews, the UN finalised its graduati
Bangladesh's manufacturing sector appears to be undergoing a structural shift -- one that raises concerns about the country's long-term industrial trajectory. The recently released Economic Census report highlights a complex transformation in the economy, marked by rapid expansion in the number of
Though temporary, the Iran War truce is a relief for the world as a whole and for an oil import-dependent country like Bangladesh, in particular. Less than two hours before the expiry of the deadline set by US President Donald Trump to 'wipe out a whole civilization', Iran and the USA agreed to a c
The prices of edible oils, which are among the major essential commodities, hardly need any cogent reason to rise in the kitchen market. Their prices have already been edging up ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. The per litre prices of especially unbottled soybean and palm oils have seen a rise in the kitchen
The power load-shedding, a usual practice that power-sector people describe as 'load management', has returned as an impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East. As the crisis of fuel oils is intensifying with every passing day, the country's power sector is bracing for difficult days ahead.
Much like banks and other non-bank financial institutions, insurance companies rely fundamentally on public trust for their survival and growth. Yet, trust is precisely what many of the country's insurance companies have sacrificed by failing to settle claims in a timely manner. When a large number
The latest figures on Bangladesh's export earnings make for grim reading. For each of eight consecutive months since August last, export earnings recorded a fall year-on-year, and the performance of March 2026 was the worst, registering an 18.07 per cent decline. The country received $3.48 billion
The economy that the incumbent BNP government has inherited from the past bears the legacy of rampant corruption and politicization that distorted all vital state institutions. The tax authority, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), was no exception. Small wonder that the past regime was mark
The government's initiative to amend labour rules reflects a critical moment in the country's effort to modernise its labour governance framework. At its core, this move appears to be an attempt to bridge the persistent gap between legislation and its practical implementation. While laws often sign
