Views / Columns

Bangladesh at 54: Lofty goals, harsh reality

Bangladesh at 54: Lofty goals, harsh reality

Bangladesh commemorated its 53rd anniversary of independence on Tuesday with much fervor and zeal. The celebration included paying tribute to the freedom fighters with due solemnity, and reiteration of its socio-economic progress and commitment to transform the country into a developed and prospero


The saga of discrimination against domestic helps

The saga of discrimination against domestic helps

One of the most crucial yet neglected services in urban conundrum is that of helping hands in households. According to a report, the total number of such workers in the world is 70.60 million. In Bangladesh, the figure of such helping hands is not documented but guesstimates have it that the total

Light engineering warrants an institutional shape

Light engineering warrants an institutional shape

Indisputably, the country's light engineering sector has immense potential for growth. Yet, while no one has contested this fact, it is still far from assuming the highly important role it is supposed to play. Despite its informal nature and unregulated patterns of work, light engineering is frequ

Understanding 1971: Why women hold the key…

Understanding 1971: Why women hold the key…

We were part of the team that completed one of the most extensive collections of documents on the History of the war of Independence. The 15 volumes are almost entirely based on official narratives/documents, which are official- governmental and administrative or political.  However some volum

Dealing with huge external debt

Dealing with huge external debt

Some studies done in the past showed that in the case of low-income countries, total external debt was found to have left a negative impact on GDP growth. But in the case of middle-income ones, external debt was positively associated with income growth. Those studies further found that in some case

Setting the right nisab of Zakat

Setting the right nisab of Zakat

During the month of Ramadan, there is always an enthusiastic effort among many Muslims to do some charities for the less privileged section of society.  The charity follows a divine decree and is performed in the holy month. Muslims strongly believe that the return of doing some charity in the

Borrowing money to eat undermines right to food

Borrowing money to eat undermines right to food

The latest report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) titled 'Food Security Statistics 2023' does not paint a bright picture. It estimates that 25.5 per cent of households in Bangladesh borrow money to buy daily food items since their current incomes are insufficient to cover food costs. T

Paradigm shift in relationship between people and places

Paradigm shift in relationship between people and places

People and places seem to develop a symbiotic relationship. This happened for millennia until colonial powers in Europe embarked on expeditions in the 15th and 16th centuries for exploration and exploitation of lands and their peoples in Americas, Asia and Africa and Australia. Ever since the time

On-campus sexual harassment: Why can't it be stopped?

On-campus sexual harassment: Why can't it be stopped?

Sexual harassment has always been abhorred in a civilised society. When it happens within the hallowed halls of learning where one would expect maturity and impeccable behaviour to shine from future leaders, it is even more abhorrent and unacceptable. Just in the last four months alone, there have

ChatGPT a boon or a bane?

ChatGPT a boon or a bane?

A teacher who teaches business at a private university is pleasantly surprised to suddenly discover her students' spectacular improvement in language proficiency. More so, she is baffled to find that some of them who had serious difficulty in composing their thoughts, let alone express in simple co

Why is the media establishment suddenly looking fragile?

Why is the media establishment suddenly looking fragile?

In November 2023, we wrote an article titled, " BD media: Why new entrants in an uncertain era?" where we wondered why there were new investors in the media economy when the global economy was not healthy.  Our conclusion of sorts was, "It's obvious that if investment is coming in, the need fo

Eliminating child labour

Eliminating child labour

Despite the existence of a government programme, titled, 'National Plan of Action on Elimination of Child Labour 2021-25',eliminating the scourge of child labour from society does not seem to be as easy as some in the government would have us believe. Consider the recently published reports of the

Is price surge during Ramadan inevitable?

Is price surge during Ramadan inevitable?

As the holy month of Ramadan commences, it is marked by a price surge and a subsequent rise in inflation. The prices of essentials, which began their upward trend before the start of the month, have now reached a record high. This trend, observed almost every year during Ramadan, underscores a stro