The World Trade Organization (WTO) as a multilateral institution has been saved, for the time being, but at the cost of doing, and agreeing to do, almost nothing. 'WTO Reforms' was the catchword of 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). Everyone agreed about the need for Reforms, but there was wide di
Record levels of global food insecurity in 2026, as projected by the World Food Programme (WFP) and an unprecedented high military expenditure sum up the current state of human civilisation. Expenditure on arms in 2024 was $2.7 trillion whereas there was a need for $300 billion then to eliminate wo
Bangladesh is encountering a surge in the incidence of measles. Over 35,000 people, mostly children under five, have been infected by the virus this year and more than 200 deaths have been reported. The saddest part about the current crisis is that it could have been easily avoided had we taken nec
Each year, the government launches drives to clear Dhaka's footpaths. On day one of a 5-day effort in April 2026, authorities fined and jailed 23 people, collecting Tk 192,000. By noon, hawkers had already returned -- like clockwork. They come back not to rebel, but to survive. For years, Dhaka h
The Bank Resolution Ordinance, 2025 was issued on May 9 last year (2025) by the Dr Yunus-led interim government with the objective of restoring stability in banking sector that was teetering on the brink of collapse. The ordinance granted the central bank, Bangladesh Bank (BB), under a new go
In Bangladesh's banking sector, the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report of Bangladesh Bank is a cornerstone of prudent lending decisions. Before approving any loan or credit facility, banks rely heavily on this report to assess a borrower's creditworthiness. It provides a consolidated view of ex
The contrast between price of rice and that of the new harvest of paddy grown in the haor area could not be starker. While rice price registered a 5.50 per cent rise here and still showing no sign of coming down in defiance of the general trend of price fall up to 19 per cent in the international m
Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee gave vent to national sentiment when he called upon the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday to initiate a discussion on the issue of student politics, saying that the current generation doesn't like aggressive student politics. His comment came amid a t
Artificial Intelligence (AI), a significant technological advancement, is currently influencing activities across the globe, from less developed rural areas to highly industrialised economies. The applications of AI are not confined to daily human life but extend to crucial sectors such as medicine
The industrial sector of Bangladesh has proved itself to be the greatest contributor to its economic development over the recent decades. The country has diversified its focus from agricultural activities towards industrial performance, and the proportion of the contribution of the industrial secto
The unanimous passage of the Bank Resolution Bill 2026 in Bangladesh's Jatiya Sangsad comes at a critical juncture for the country's financial sector. Mounting stress in several weak banks reflected in high non-performing loans (NPLs), governance lapses, and capital shortfalls has eroded depositor
Production at the state-owned Diammonium Phosphate Fertilizer Company Limited (DAPFCL) at Anowara Upazila in Chattogram came to a halt on Saturday (April 18) due to an acute shortage of ammonia. Notably, until early last month, ammonia to the DAPFCL was being supplied from the nearby Chittag
Considered impartially, eviction of hawkers from Dhaka's footpaths appears to be a delicate subject. Both political expediency and kickback economy are involved in this business. Crucially, operation of such unauthorised business could not go on if there was no demand for goods on display on footpa
