Is the Trump administration committing war crimes in Venezuela?
Since September last year, the Trump administration has taken a hard line against Venezuela.
2 January 2026, 07:00 AM
2 January 2026, 07:00 AM
Uncertain politics, unsettling economy
Bangladesh's much-anticipated parliamentary elections are scheduled for next February. And they could not have come at a more fraught time for the country. More than 16 months have passed since the interim administration took office, and unofficial estimates indicate a downward trend in the government's approval ratings.
7 December 2025, 07:00 AM
7 December 2025, 07:00 AM
Can Mamdani deliver on the issues that secured his win?
This was the first election since Trump took office in January that provided an opportunity to gauge voters' current political mood.
10 November 2025, 05:00 AM
10 November 2025, 05:00 AM
Japan has opened its door for Bangladesh, let’s not ruin it
Bangladesh plans to send one lakh people to Japan over the next five years.
25 October 2025, 04:00 AM
25 October 2025, 04:00 AM
Will the upcoming election stabilise Bangladesh-India relations?
There are several areas where Bangladesh and India can collaborate.
14 October 2025, 04:00 AM
14 October 2025, 04:00 AM
Remembering Salahuddin Ahmed, a mentor and friend
Salahuddin Ahmed had a career that only a few can imagine.
28 September 2025, 06:39 AM
28 September 2025, 06:39 AM
AN OPEN DIALOGUE / Ukraine’s peace lies in compromise
Before Biden, various US presidents had respected an unwritten understanding between Russia and the West that Ukraine would not be invited to join NATO.
25 August 2025, 05:00 AM
25 August 2025, 05:00 AM
AN OPEN DIALOGUE / Why opinion polls still matter
Opinion polls are, in a sense, a necessary evil. They can often incur the wrath of those in power, or of individuals whose views are not corroborated by, or match, the information provided by a survey.
10 August 2025, 04:00 AM
10 August 2025, 04:00 AM
Why economic forecasting is now trickier than before
Bangladesh has some very difficult—and one could say unpredictable—times ahead in the coming years.
22 January 2022, 18:00 PM
My reflections and hopes for the new year
I cannot say for sure what 2022 will bring for every person on this planet, but for me it signifies a bend in the road. Last year is gone, and I can only hope that the new one will bring for us all exciting experiences, fewer worries, new opportunities, and more fulfilment.
8 January 2022, 18:00 PM
New variant, same old travel woes
Covid-19 has taken a big toll on the tourism industry in countries that rely on foreign visitors. As new waves of infections take hold and ever-changing rules
25 December 2021, 18:00 PM
Graduation to Middle-Income Status: Bangladesh must address institutional weaknesses
The news that Bangladesh has been placed on a list of countries graduating from least developed status has generated a lot of excitement in the national media, as well as in government circles.
11 December 2021, 18:00 PM
Carbon Tax is Not Dead
At the just-concluded COP26 meeting in Glasgow, the idea of carbon tax received renewed attention.
27 November 2021, 18:00 PM
COP26: A meta-perspective
Was COP26, held in Glasgow, a success or a failure? It appears everyone has a different opinion about what the two-week-long summit achieved.
20 November 2021, 18:00 PM
The kitchen market is on fire, thanks to the recent inflation
I regularly scan the headlines of Bangla newspapers. Recently, I came across several news items with headers that go along the line “Bajare agun, purchhey shadharon manush,” meaning “The market is ablaze and the ordinary consumers are burning.”
13 November 2021, 18:00 PM
The need to improve our worker’s compensation system
My fellow columnist, Shuprova Tasneem, was recently lamenting the lack of fair wages and workplace safety in Bangladesh.
30 October 2021, 18:00 PM
What’s new about the 2021 Nobel Laureates in economics?
One of the most eagerly anticipated Nobel Prizes is awarded in the category of Economic Sciences and this year three Americans were honoured.
16 October 2021, 18:00 PM
How to fix the mess in the power sector?
The power sector in Bangladesh could be considered a success story. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise energy as a key enabler for development (cf. Goal 7).
8 October 2021, 18:00 PM
Covid vaccination: Third dose versus the first dose
The current debate over the necessity, cost, and effectiveness of the third dose or “booster shots” for Covid is generating a lot of heat.
25 September 2021, 18:00 PM
The multi-dimensional challenges of resuscitating the Afghan economy
The USA observed the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 11, 2021, on the same day the Taliban raised its white flag on the Presidential Palace in Kabul to celebrate their victory.
18 September 2021, 18:00 PM
Building a better world after the pandemic
Under the current global configuration, the roles played by the two rival superpowers USA and China will be pivotal not only in the geopolitical sphere, but their respective strengths will also determine the trajectory of trade patterns, economic hegemony, and world power alignment.
4 September 2021, 18:00 PM
The Afghan government and its future
The sudden collapse of the US-backed Ghani regime in Afghanistan and the scenes of the evacuation of American citizens at Kabul Airport brought back some deep-buried memories of mine from another era.
29 August 2021, 18:00 PM
What can we do if inflation is back?
Why talk about inflation in the midst of the pandemic, one might ask. The answer is simple, if somewhat unpleasant. Inflation may soon be making a comeback!
19 August 2021, 18:00 PM
The effect of the Delta variant in uncertain times
For Bangladesh, the Delta variant of Covid-19 virus couldn’t have come at a worse time. Starting in January, our infection rate had been going down and was below 300 per day in mid-February.
5 August 2021, 18:00 PM
Crisis in the oil market and EU’s new environmental plan
Two recent news items, apparently unrelated, caught my attention.
24 July 2021, 18:00 PM
To overcome vaccine apartheid, we need solid plans
It bears repeating that vaccines are essential for protection against the deadly coronavirus. We’ve seen how the virus spares no one and targets the most vulnerable people, including those who have pre-existing health conditions or comorbidities.
8 July 2021, 18:00 PM
Why can’t they get their fair share in our budget?
In Bangladesh, while the pandemic has impacted businesses of all sizes, plus life and livelihood, evidence is mounting that the enterprises that employ between 1 and 249 workers—officially the micro, small and medium enterprises—are bearing the brunt of the economic slowdown.
26 June 2021, 18:00 PM
Will G7 and COP26 herald a new era?
As the world strives to fast-forward the economy in an attempt to recover from the pandemic, climate change has rightly emerged as a major concern in all international forums.
10 June 2021, 18:00 PM