Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio has stayed low for years, which limits the country’s ability to invest in roads, healthcare, schools, and other public services. While most discussions focus on big corporations and wealthy individuals, the majority of tax avoiders are actually small shop o
The United States (US) has attacked Venezuela and deposed Nicolas Maduro — in Washington’s most direct intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. The recent armed intervention in Venezuela has become the subject of discussion among countries all over the world. Ve
An abyss of uncertainty was prevailing in the political arena of Bangladesh towards the end of March 1971. When the failure of the political leadership to provide direction became acute, when the people were dazed and dumbfounded by the barbarous brutality of the Pakistani military forces, the youn
(This is the last of the two-part articles on the QR-based payment system by the writers) In line with the global trend, MFS providers in Bangladesh introduced their own proprietary Quick Response (QR) coded or QR-based payment systems in 2018. However, these early models were merchant-specific, m
Risk-based supervision reshapes the relationship between banks and regulators. Under compliance-based supervision, power was largely mechanical. Banks were assessed against ratios, exposure limits, and reporting standards. If these thresholds were met, supervisory intervention was limited. Action u
The financial sector has undergone a profound transformation over the past few decades, mainly driven by rapid technological advancements. The most notable developments are the transition from traditional cash-based transactions to cashless or electronic payment systems. A cashless transaction refe
Bangladesh's development narrative is often celebrated in macroeconomic statistics. Decades of robust GDP growth, surging exports, and poverty reduction have positioned the country as a global development exemplar. Yet, these numbers conceal the lived reality of millions of Bangladeshis who struggl
Export diversification remains a critical development objective for Bangladesh as the country seeks to reduce its heavy reliance on readymade garments (RMG). Within this context, the handicraft sector presents a viable alternative export avenue due to its strong backward linkages with rural employm
Bangladesh recorded nominal economic growth under the previous regime. The headline performance, however, concealed deep-rooted structural weaknesses from entrenched corruption, weak fiscal discipline, and severe governance failures. These deficiencies strained the economy, leading to a sharp build
As Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, I welcome the decisive shift of the Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus-led government towards port-centred maritime development as a foundation of Bangladesh's economic transformation. More than 92 per cent of our international trade passes through Chitta
The last few days have seen positive development on the country's financial horizon. Remittances hit a record in 2025, helping shore up reserves. According to Bangladesh Bank data, Bangladeshis abroad sent home a record US$32.8 billion in 2025. Economists have observed that more expatriates are now
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, more commonly referred to as GESI, has increasingly become a defining lens through which development practitioners, policymakers, and international organisations assess and plan interventions. Yet, despite its widespread use in project proposals, policy documen
Risk-based supervision is one of the most important changes in modern banking supervision. It is important not because it creates new rules, but because it changes how supervisors think and work. In the past, supervisors treated most banks in the same way. They depended mainly on periodic inspectio
