Read between the two pieces of news---one concerning the fall of 7.8 million more people into poverty over the past couple of years and the other savouring the formation of a committee for payment of dearness allowance for government employees---the instant reaction ought to be one of dismay. This
Dhaka city's infamy for its chaotic public transportation system is known but now it makes news for the dwindling of the fleet of buses. The bus service system in the town is steadily losing its share of passengers for a lack of popularity and under the pressure of rising non-motorised transports (
Price slump at its lowest for some winter vegetables has raised the old question of troubles and travails farmers often undergo. Oversupply of perishable fruits and vegetables compared to demand has ever remained a problem in this country. If a kilogram of radish fetches only Tk1.0 and a full-size
Since its establishment in 1972, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been tasked with the dual responsibility of formulating revenue policy and enforcing its implementation. This inherent conflict of interest has led to various limitations, distortions, and shortcomings in revenue administratio
The rising cost of drugs, including life-saving medicines, has become an alarming issue -- one that appears to operate beyond the scope of effective state intervention. While there are occasional governmental initiatives to curb the price hikes of everyday consumer goods, the pharmaceutical sector
Are the Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) losing appeal to countries worldwide? Since 2021, when the total number of RTAs that came into force in a year reached a record level of 44, there has been a decline in RTAs both in terms of notification and enforcement. Seven RTAs came into force last year
The government's recent decision to hike up Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Supplementary Duty (SD) on more than one hundred goods and services has taken flak from the public as well as the business community--- and for good reasons. Obviously, as part of its effort to increase revenue collection, the go
The move of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to raise value-added tax (VAT) and supplementary duty (SD) on nearly 100 goods and services has evoked both surprise and anguish. Surprise, because the hike that has come halfway through the current financial year has all the potential to fuel inflat
How a boon turns into a bane or a blessing into a curse is best exemplified by the highly deplorable condition of the rivers around the capital city. Nature created these streams for its own sake, man also found them beneficial; but for unsustainable use, those have now turned into bodies of dirty
With Indonesia joining the BRICS, a platform looking for strengthening South-South Cooperation and setting into motion a new world order, it now accounts for 40 per cent of the world population and 35 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Indonesia becomes the 10th member of the inte
In the pre-1947 era, when East Bengal had little to no industrial presence, the region still boasted three sugar mills in Darshana, Dinajpur, and Kishorganj. If this historical foundation in sugar production is considered an advantage in terms of expertise and managerial experience, one might have
The settlement of maritime disputes with Myanmar and India way back in 2013 and 2014, though remarkable for Bangladesh with the establishment of its right to sea resources in the hugely expanded maritime zones, is yet to see any noticeable progress in setting out a work plan in that direction. Clea
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have introduced a transformative way of handling money, offering a decentralized, digital alternative to traditional currencies. Built on blockchain technology, these virtual currencies use cryptography for secure transactions, making them resistant to man
