Jobs provide livelihood, and thus, are a source of income that is crucial for economic growth. By providing access to broadband and a digital device, technology has shifted traditional work patterns. It has created new ways in which work is carried out and enabled more people to join the labour for
In the second and third decades of the twentieth century, some of the most significant events in human history occurred, such as World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, the Russian Revolution and the beginning of socialism, Mussolini's emergence in Italy, and the rise of fascism worldwide, the Great
There are all the mysteries remaining unsolved. There are the questions which have not had answers. Perhaps we will never arrive at circumstances where our enquiries will be looked into, to our satisfaction. In a world where some of the strangest things have happened since time immemorial, it is no
The 11th Sustainable Development Conference (SDC2025), held in the vibrant city of Bangkok from July 15 to 17, stood as a testament to the unwavering global dedication toward creating a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future. Over these three days, an extraordinary assembly of scholars, polic
In an era of shifting global power, climate urgency, and rapid technological disruption, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains a central force in shaping Asia’s development trajectory. A timely new book, The Elgar Companion to the Asian Development Bank (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024), off
Prioritising social protection as a strategic investment for development in Asia and the Pacific will allow everyone to thrive as challenges are overcome argue Asia and the Pacific is navigating multiple disruptions, both positive and negative. Economic restructuring, green
On March 2, 2022 in Nairobi, representatives of 175 countries pledged to create a legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution. The agreement urged addressing the full lifecycle of plastic and proposed alternatives including reusability. An Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) that c
Immediately after gaining independence, Bangladesh's foreign currency reserves were nearly depleted. Most factories had either been destroyed or shut down due to the war in 1971. Despite these challenges, the economy, heavily dependent on foreign loans, aid, and agriculture, showed remarkable resil
In 1992, the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the Earth Summit and took a historic step by recognizing a group of nations as uniquely vulnerable to environmental and economic shocks: the Small Island Developing States, or SIDS. Comprising 39 UN-recognised members and 18 associate members, SIDS
This is where economic diplomacy comes knocking on the door of the strongman; the recent initiative by the United States (US) to lower tariffs on key Bangladeshi exports is a ringing endorsement of the magic that is possible with good leadership and true negotiating. No usual policy shift by any me
Upending text book theories on tariff, President Donald Trump is using tariff as a weapon of choice for multiple objectives. This has made the existing rule-based global trading system go haywire, making the predictable and transparent multilateral trading system put in place by Uruguay Round of tr
Bangladesh's economic progress is at risk due to a weak banking sector and the absence of a functioning capital market. The banking sector is the weakest link in Bangladesh's economy. Despite the strength and competitiveness of the overall economy, banks have long posed serious risks. A review of
The two neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and India share a land border of approximately 4,096 kilometres (2,545 miles), making it the fifth-longest international land border in the world. Under ideal circumstances, such geographic proximity should facilitate trade between the two countries by l
