Md. Shakhawat Hossain’s My Journalism under Fascist Hasina: Leading in Tough Timesis not a conventional book written in retrospect. Rather, it is a compilation of 25 reports mostly published between 16 September 2014 and 09 October, 2024 in the newspapers Holiday, First News, and The News Tim
The historic execution of the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on February 6, 2026, represents a structural watershed in bilateral relations. As Bangladesh prepares for its formal graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November this year, the prevailing economi
Bangladesh's export incentives have helped industries grow and compete in global markets. But as these programmes expand, an important question is becoming harder to ignore: how can policymakers ensure that these incentives reward genuine trade growth? Export incentives have long suppo
Bangladesh's idea of either merging six investment-related agencies into a single body or creating an Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) is timely and significant. The proposed consolidation of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), Bangladesh
Bangladesh has reached a pivotal junction in its journey towards a trillion-dollar economy by embracing digital onboarding as a primary driver of financial inclusion. The strategic shift from manual, paper-based processes to a digital-first architecture has fundamentally altered the nation's econom
Freedom of expression is widely recognised as a foundational pillar of democracy and an essential safeguard of civic liberty. A democratic state cannot function without the free exchange of ideas, criticism and dissent. However, when this freedom is weaponised to spread organised falsehoods, engage
The Ready-Made Garments (RMG) industry remains the backbone of Bangladesh's export economy, contributing over 80 per cent of total export earnings and employing more than four million workers-around 80 per cent of them women. Its performance directly influences the country's macroeconomic stability
In Development as Freedom, Amartya Sen notes, that “the agency of women is one of the most neglected areas in development economics, and yet it is central to removing inequities that restrain development.” For Bangladesh, the story has been mixed as women have long powered its’ ec
Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) have emerged as multilateral or bilateral arrangement in the global trade landscape and have been shaping economic relationships and influencing global trade dynamics since 1960s. Starting from European Economic Community in 1957, the world experienced RTAs like MER
How are developing Asia and the Pacific’s growth being affected by subdued global trade and the Middle East conflict? Growth is moderating, but holding up. Assuming an early stabilisation in the Middle East conflict, regional growth is forecast at 5.1 per cent in both 2026 and 2027. However,
While introducing himself, the veteran journalist, poet and writer Maruf Kamal Khan says with a touch of Dickensian humility: “Not a famous person, neither a consequential one in terms of popularity; could not get established as a litterateur despite writing some prose and poetry; lone source
The United States (US) is the primary destination for Bangladeshi exports, especially readymade garments (RMG), accounting for one-fifth of total apparel exports. On April 2 last year, the largest export market faced a setback due to President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs. Consequently, in the
Every year on April 7, the world marks World Health Day—a moment to reflect on progress in human wellbeing and confront the challenges that still lie ahead. In 2026, the theme “Together for Health, Stand with Science” delivers a timely message: health is no longer j
