Views / Columns

Options for reforming  the constitution

Options for reforming  the constitution

Many constitutional experts opine that the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina Wajed has brought the country's constitution to such a ramshackle state by resorting to reckless doctoring that it has now become almost impossible to follow it by letter or spirit. The interim government that has assumed offi


Why this labour unrest  in RMG sector?

Why this labour unrest  in RMG sector?

The ongoing labour unrest since August 29, which has led to several factory closures across the industrial hubs of Ashulia and Gazipur, has brought the lucrative Bangladesh readymade garment (RMG) sector to a critical crossroads, sending warning signals to buyers throughout the world. This turmoil

Challenges facing global trade despite optimistic predictions

Challenges facing global trade despite optimistic predictions

For years global trade predictions have been marked by inconsistency, with leading organisations providing conflicting forecasts. This has largely been due to differences in data collection methods, the varying credibility of sources, and the distinct models employed by each entity to analyse econo

Restructuring govt machinery

Restructuring govt machinery

The finance and commerce adviser to the interim government Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Saturday last told the media that the government is going to crack down on the corrupt tycoons in the financial sector. Earlier, on September 5, too, in a similar vein, following a meeting with buying house representa

White paper: diagnosis of economic malaise

White paper: diagnosis of economic malaise

More than two decades ago, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), after forming the government, published a two-part white paper on the corruption of the Awami League government in 1996-2001. The 750-plus pages of documents examined 40 incidents of corruption and irregularities of Sheikh Hasina as

No easy answer to energy sector's problems

No easy answer to energy sector's problems

At a recent seminar titled "Challenges in Reforms in Energy and Power Sector" on September 4, two of the country's leading energy sector experts, BUET Professor Dr. Tamim and Dr. Ijaz Hossain spoke. Dr. Ijaz presented the key note paper in which major issues plaguing the energy and power sectors we

The disconnect between teachers and students unlikely to heal

The disconnect between teachers and students unlikely to heal

The student movement responsible for the ouster of Hasina-led government has not only restored confidence in and respect for the community of learners but also raised high hopes for the country. Before history was made on August 5 last, courtesy of their courage and dedication, the entire generatio

Revamping manpower sector

Revamping manpower sector

While much has been written about the students' Anti-Discrimination Movement triggering the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina government, less credit has been given to the expatriate workers overseas who helped upend the tyrannical rule and is now poised to play a heroic role in the formation of a new

No action plan yet to explore blue economy

No action plan yet to explore blue economy

Quite a few years have passed since the settlement of maritime disputes with neighbours in the designated international court.  Still, there is nothing in view to suggest any mentionable work programme to explore the vast resources of the ocean- blue economy as it is fondly dubbed. Clearly, wh

Academic curricula, jobs and growth – how to correlate?

Academic curricula, jobs and growth – how to correlate?

We have been investing in education with the hope of building a better tomorrow. We expect graduates to be eligible for high-paying jobs than those who do not pursue education. Hence, once we face the growing number of jobless graduates, academic curricula becomes the improvement target. How do we

Stability key to interim administration’s success

Stability key to interim administration’s success

Though the Dr Yunus-led interim government is still in a nascent stage, yet expectations from it from the various disgruntled sections of administration and society seem to be unlimited. However, the methods being used to realise the demands are also the age-old tactics like blocking the traffic at

Factoring climate change in economic planning

Factoring climate change in economic planning

"Despite some uncertainty around its magnitude, climate change clearly dampens output levels in Asia and the Pacific through channels such as loss of physical capital, people's health conditions and productivity." The Asia-Pacific Quarterly Economic Update, prepared and published by the United Nat

Ulterior motive behind faulty energy plan

Ulterior motive behind faulty energy plan

Successive governments from 2009 onwards were headed by the same party and the country ended up paying billions of dollars for establishing several mega projects that were supposed to generate 40 Gigawatts (GW) of power by 2030. If the biggest scam over the last 15 years centred around the banking