The smile curve is widely used to rank value in global production. At the two ends lie research, design, branding, and market control-the high-value segments. At the bottom lies manufacturing, often portrayed as the lowest-value activity. Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector is therefore ro
Bangladesh's television industry is entering a period of significant transition. Broadcasters are correct to recognise that conventional television economics are under growing pressure. Advertising markets are evolving, digital platforms are fragmenting viewership, and the industry is increasingly
Bangladesh Bank has recently issued a complete guideline on foundation training for newly recruited officials of scheduled banks through BRPD-1 Circular No. 10 dated May 7, 2026. The guideline has come into effect immediately and will be applicable to all entry-level officials recruited by schedule
Eid al-Azha, also referred to by many as ?'Feast of Sacrifice' is the second of the two main festivals in Islam, alongside Eid al-Fitr. It falls on the 10th of Dhu'l-Hijja, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the t
The deaths are real, the causes are complex, and the solutions are largely known. What is needed now is honesty, not about who to blame, but about what needs to change. Bangladesh is grieving. Many children have died of measles in recent weeks, and many more remain in hospital. The scale of this t
It has been quite some time since I started researching the structural shortcomings in Islamic banking in Bangladesh. In 1999, I authored one of the first comprehensive analyses of how Islamic banking operated in Bangladesh, and I recommended that the BB establish interest-free money market product
The next financial crisis may not begin with a housing bubble or a sovereign default. It may begin with a line of code-executed flawlessly, at scale, and entirely without human hesitation. Agentic AI-systems that do not merely assist but act-marks a decisive break from the past. For decades, finan
For nearly 60 years, the global oil market has danced to the tune of a powerful cartel. OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has been the invisible hand guiding the price of the black gold that runs our cars, heats our homes, and dictates the economic fate of nations. But on
In Bangladesh, ovarian cancer is often discussed as a medical issue, but rarely as an economic one. Every late diagnosis not only puts a life at risk, but also poses a financial burden on a family and the national health system. While the country continues to expand its cancer treatment infrastruct
Family businesses built Bangladesh's private sector. Walk through any major industry -- garments, banking, real estate, telecoms -- you will find that the dominant players trace their origins to a single founder. That is the story of how economies get built. The problem is what comes next. In the
The banking sector is the lifeblood of any modern economy. It channels savings into investments, manages financial risks, and sustains economic growth. Yet for decades, Bangladesh's banking industry has struggled with a persistent and deeply rooted problem a workforce that lacks specialised p
There are moments in global affairs when a quiet infrastructural decision carries more strategic weight than a loud military maneuver. Saudi Arabia's effort to expand and operationalise alternative oil routes-bypassing the Strait of Hormuz-is one such moment. What appears to be a technical adjustme
“Energy is the lifeline of modern society. Without energy, economic systems collapse and development comes to a halt,”—Daniel Yergin. The essence of energy permeates every facet of economics and societal life worldwide. Countries require reliable, cost-effective energy sources to
