Views / Reviews

The gig economy in South Asia

The gig economy in South Asia

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


Different dimensions in trade deals among the US, EU and the UK

Different dimensions in trade deals among the US, EU and the UK

Strategic economic analysts have been closely monitoring the different dimensions that have been evolving over the past few weeks pertaining to US tariff deals all over the world. James FitzGerald and Tom Geoghegan in their observations in the BBC have tried in their own way to identify the winners

Geneva to Dhaka: ensuring digital integrity

Geneva to Dhaka: ensuring digital integrity

We are living in an age where the transformation of life from physical world to digital is transitioning through various means such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, large language model so on and so forth, in a way which is unparalleled. And the way technologies are evolving it wo

A small laboratory with a big vision

A small laboratory with a big vision

Advanced experimental laboratories are essential for scientific progress, yet building one from scratch-especially in a resource-constrained setting-demands vision, persistence, and extraordinary effort. My journey to establish the Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (NRL) at BUET began in 2013, sho

On Laski's Grammar of Politics, others

On Laski's Grammar of Politics, others

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

All those deaths, all that mystery

All those deaths, all that mystery

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

SDC2025: a global convergence for sustainable future

SDC2025: a global convergence for sustainable future

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

Reimagining Asia's future

Reimagining Asia's future

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

Social protection: not an option but a necessity

Social protection: not an option but a necessity

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

The urgency of positive actions to deal with plastic menace

The urgency of positive actions to deal with plastic menace

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

BEPZA at 45: achievements, obstacles, and future

BEPZA at 45: achievements, obstacles, and future

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

Fulfilling the promise of Small Island Developing States

Fulfilling the promise of Small Island Developing States

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