No! The safest answer
4 September 2026
“No” is not merely a word. It is a management philosophy and, occasionally, a retirement plan.
4 September 2026
Profit before principles
28 August 2026
For decades, Bangladesh treated multinational companies as models of ethical business.
28 August 2026
Rulebook needs a show-cause notice
21 August 2026
In many of our offices, the rulebook is treated like the fire extinguisher: displayed prominently, dusted before an audit, and touched only after smoke appears.
21 August 2026
From floor to runway
14 August 2026
Every now and then, Bangladesh produces a rare policy miracle: an authority listens before the public loses its voice. Bangladesh Bank’s latest Bangla QR circulars deserve appreciation for correcting the course.
14 August 2026
A little honest appreciation, please
31 July 2026
In Bangladesh, praise is treated like public money: everyone agrees it should circulate, but nobody wants to release it. Tell a colleague he did well, and someone will demand an audit. Compliment a bridge and another citizen will ask which political party issued your membership card. We are generous with criticism, stingy with gratitude and quick to suspicion.
31 July 2026
Corporate rituals on trial
24 July 2026
Applying for a job can feel like seeking admission to a royal household. Candidates submit a CV, cover letter, certificates, photograph, present salary, expected salary and perhaps proof of good behaviour in a previous life.
24 July 2026
The cost of neutrality
17 July 2026
Two neighbours went to a village elder with a dispute. After hearing the first man, the elder said, “You are right”.
17 July 2026
The floor economy
10 July 2026
We Bangladeshis love being unique, usually in the wrong direction. We speak of governance “of the people, by the people, for the people”, then regulate as if service providers prepared the draft, proofread it, and blessed it for their spiritual welfare.
10 July 2026
Happy marriage between management and accountants
A man piloting a hot air balloon discovers that he is hopelessly lost. He descends to a lower altitude and locates a man on the ground and shouts, “excuse me sir, can you tell me where I am?” The man below says, “yes, you are in a hot air balloon, about twenty feet above ground.”
13 May 2022
Mid-career crisis
After my 2002 performance review, I got the best performance rating. But my increment was negligible.
28 April 2022
Dealing with corporate rumours
On my return from Australia recently, my friend Asif invited me to his office. He shuddered as he lowered his voice to a whisper to inform me,
13 April 2022
Knowing your boss
When talking about business, a boss advises to focus on KYC (Know Your Customer) and when talking about career, I suggest to focus on KYB (Know Your Boss).
31 March 2022
Driving change: the knowing-doing gap
My journey to obesity started when I was introduced to the executive canteen of Unilever Bangladesh in Kalurghat, Chattogram, in 1993. My weight shot up by 15 kilogrammes within a span of six months despite my efforts to discipline myself.
17 March 2022
Jack of all trades but master of (none) one
During my childhood, I was quite accustomed to seeing my parents’ unhappy reaction to my somewhat consistent poor performance in school. There was very little I could do to fulfil their wishes as I was too busy mastering skills in sports, namely, football, cricket, badminton, swimming, chess and what not!
3 March 2022
The Great Resignation: Are we ready for it?
Patrick in the US recently quit his job and decided to do something new so that he can control his lifestyle.
17 February 2022
Do brilliant students become weak leaders?
For a not-so-good student like me, the academic notes of the top students in the class were like a gold mine in school days. Anyone who asked for such “notes” would get the daring look as if you are asking for their marks from the exam or something similar, let alone sharing them! Experiences like these are very common in our academic culture.
3 February 2022
Effective decision-making: No debate, no decision
Debate in our culture, be it in the family or at work, is often considered “beyadobi”, particularly when one is challenging the authority of those who are senior by position or age. Debate can also be considered a taboo in many cultures and even in successful businesses.
20 January 2022
Do you want a boss who is a competent jerk or a lovable star?
It is a universal truth that criticising colleagues and bosses is basic to all work cultures although it hurts to admit it. A recent study found that the most talked about, rather criticised, in any organisation is the boss and its HR practices.
5 January 2022
Leadership for today's Digital Bangladesh
Business leaders are responsible for growing their business, by navigating through a myriad of disruptive forces that are constantly changing the business landscape.
17 February 2018
The historic movement to save Sundarbans
For the first time in history, Bangladesh is experiencing a mass movement to save a forest – the largest mangrove in the world.
27 April 2017