The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is one of the five Regional Commissions under the jurisdiction of the UN Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to increase economic activity in Asia and the Far East, as well as to foster economic
Journalism is not only a profession; it demands passion, devotion and commitment. It also comes with the responsibility to serve readers, viewers and listeners with unbiased information and perspectives they need to make important decisions in everyday life. Aspiring journalists may wonder how the
2024 was the hottest on record globally. In Asia and the Pacific, Bangladesh was the worst-hit country, with about 33 million people affected by lower crop yields that destabilised food systems, along with extensive school closures and many cases of heatstroke and related diseases. Children, the el
The accounting standards are sets of principles and guidelines required to follow in the recording of financial transactions and in the preparation and presentation of financial statements of any organisation. International Accounting Standards (IAS)/Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are adopted
Once feared as a difficult subject, English is now being embraced as a skill of empowerment. Khan, a seasoned teacher and English news presenter for Bangladesh Television and Betar, has translated his decades of experience into these three accessible and impactful books, according to a press statem
The ceasefire agreement on the war in Gaza, signed on October 10 at Sharm el Sheik, is now two weeks old. It is still holding on, in a manner of speaking. The tongue-in-cheek statement conveys its beleaguered state. No sooner the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners was comp
In the mid ‘80s, Dhaka was a slow-paced city, almost like a large district town. Life revolved around one TV channel! Radio programmes had avid listeners, tuning to BBC during any political upheaval was common along with the name Mark Tully. BTV provided the late evening thrills thro
There are two elements of standard public debt sustainability analysis. The sustainability of external debt and the sustainability of domestic debt. They are inter-related but often have different dimensions. Both are very important. As such, traditional debt sustainability assessment (DSA) conduct
More often than not, a T-shirt bought from countries like the United States of America (USA) and Australia will have a tag saying, "Made in Bangladesh", reflecting the position Bangladesh's RMG sector holds in the international market. The RMG sector contributes to 81 per cent of the country's expo
Financial Express (FE): You have been a firm believer in regional cooperation in South Asia for a long time. Despite the growing geopolitical tension and rivalry in the region, do you still think that there is a possibility of enhancing the cooperation? Ishrat Husain (IH): Yes, I do, and I think i
Trade and competition are fundamentally linked, with exports serving as an important component of the gross domestic product (GDP) and a key driver of global economic integration. Export competitiveness refers to a country's ability to produce goods and services that can compete effectively in inte
In Bangladesh, the ancient tradition of Ayurveda is a deep-seated, holistic healing practice. However, it remains a peripheral part of the modern healthcare system. This failure to integrate into the mainstream represents a missed opportunity for a more inclusive and comprehensive health model, ste
In July 2025, twelve-year-old Joya from Barguna fell ill with what first seemed like a simple fever, but within days she was diagnosed with dengue and rushed to a private clinic in Barishal as public hospitals were overflowing. Her eight-day stay in the clinic, including time in intensive care, cos
