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IMF warns of risks to global financial stability

IMF warns of risks to global financial stability

International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva while speaking at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday (March 25)  warned that the global economy faces risks to its financial stability  because of fallouts from the recent banking crises and the forma


US monetary policy & Bangladesh economy

US monetary policy & Bangladesh economy

During my February visit to Bangladesh, I had the privilege of joining a Federal Reserve's (FED) Monetary Policy discussion session organised by the Chief Economist's Unit of the Bangladesh Bank (BB). The session was attended by senior economists, moderated by Chief Economist Dr Habibur Rahman. My

Why teenage readers turn away from juvenile tales

Why teenage readers turn away from juvenile tales

In the countries with a large reading public, readers are not necessarily the discriminating ones. A large number of them are found to be bibliophiles, loosely book lovers. Their identity stops there, because most of them are the readers of pulp fictions or cheap thrillers. Serious readers have bee

Does saving banks promote 'democratic capitalism'?

Does saving banks promote 'democratic capitalism'?

Banks in the developed countries are the citadel of private capitalism and central banks are supposedly their guardians and gatekeepers. Every time there is a shockwave going through one or a few banks, it threatens to be systemic. One would suppose that in such moments of crisis central banks will

Focusing more on non-traditional RMG markets

Focusing more on non-traditional RMG markets

Non-traditional markets have turned out to be increasingly important than before for the RMG industry of Bangladesh. While the industry has traditionally focused on exporting garments to developed countries like the United States and the European Union, it has recently started exploring new markets

Not all is lost for this society

Not all is lost for this society

The slogans are rather significant: "Manab kalyane amra thakte chai (for the cause of humanity, we volunteer to lose)" or "Ihaloukik loksan saman paraloukik lav (loss of the mortal world is equal to the gain of the world after". With the chanting of these slogans and giving the beneficiaries a uniq

Pipeline projects and BPC's handling of petroleum products

Pipeline projects and BPC's handling of petroleum products

Bangladesh-India friendship pipeline for carrying diesel oil was jointly opened through video conference by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of India, Norendra Modi on March 18, 2023. Prime Minister Hasina hoped that 'the pipeline will play a significant role i

Future of trade prospects with the EU

Future of trade prospects with the EU

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh's diplomatic relations with the European Union (EU). Over the past five decades, the EU has emerged as an indispensable trade and development partner. It is by far the largest export market, as almost half of Bangladesh's merch

In need of a free-floated exchange rate regime

In need of a free-floated exchange rate regime

In a previous write-up in May last year, this scribe argued that the artificially-inflated value of Bangladesh’s currency, the Taka, was hurting exporters and remitters alike. The piece also tried to portray that the currency management meant indirectly taxing exporters and remitters while s

Is a new world order emerging?

Is a new world order emerging?

The news took every country by storm, so improbable it seemed so long, until now that is. Countries most shaken by disbelief are, of course, America and Israel. The sudden development in geo-politics has not only caught them unawares, it has upended their grand design for the Middle-East. The arch

Rising inflation and deepening currency crisis hit Bangladesh

Rising inflation and deepening currency crisis hit Bangladesh

According to the Financial Express (March 13) inflation in Bangladesh resurged in February this year to 8.78 per cent. In fact, inflation has been on the decline since September, 2022 until last month when it started to show an upward trend. Inflation indeed peaked 9.52 per cent in August last year

Shopping for Eid, with care

Shopping for Eid, with care

With the memories of the March 5 and 7 blasts coiled in the subconscious layer of their mind, people in Dhaka are preparing to come out on Eid shopping at the city markets. Many started shopping a week ago to avoid crowd. The blast scenes appeared to have been erased from their memories. Their numb