A higher growth target without credible reform will remain elusive
20 July 2026, 09:00 AM
Growth cannot be declared or budgeted into existence; it must be earned through credibility, investment, productivity, and institutional change.
20 July 2026, 09:00 AM
Exports falter, remittances rise: What does this tell us?
2 July 2026, 19:38 PM
Exports stood at around $48 billion, down by 0.58 percent from the previous year, despite a sharp June increase. This means the rebound came too late to change the annual picture. It may signal some recovery in orders, delayed shipment adjustments, or short-term buyer confidence. But it does not prove that the export sector has regained strength.
2 July 2026, 19:38 PM
Budget reform must start with what's feasible
30 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Every year, the national budget contains some good initiatives.
30 June 2026, 08:00 AM
A budget of promises, pressures, and unanswered questions
13 June 2026, 09:00 AM
Budgets often reveal more through their tensions than through their promises. The proposed budget for FY2026-27 is no exception.
13 June 2026, 09:00 AM
The budget must rebuild social protection for a changing economy
4 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Bangladesh has reached a point where social protection can no longer be treated as a set of small compensatory programmes for the poor.
4 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Bangladesh needs to move up in global value chains through industrial upgrading
17 May 2026, 09:00 AM
Bangladesh’s participation in global value chains remains narrow and concentrated in low-value segments.
17 May 2026, 09:00 AM
Bangladesh’s food insecurity warning cannot be ignored
27 April 2026, 09:00 AM
The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) carries an uncomfortable message for Bangladesh.
27 April 2026, 09:00 AM
2026-27 budget must stabilise economy amid mounting pressures
2 April 2026, 08:00 AM
The 2026-27 budget comes at a critical moment for the country.
2 April 2026, 08:00 AM
How to make Special Economic Zones successful
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically delineated 'enclaves' in which regulations and practices related to business and trade differ from the rest of the country and therefore all the units therein enjoy special privileges. SEZs can generate both static and dynamic benefits.
4 December 2016, 18:00 PM
Sub-regional cooperation can be the answer
Though There is a strong demand for a deeper regional integration in South Asia, the progress has been rather slow.
1 October 2016, 18:00 PM
Where do South Asian countries stand?
For meaningful comparisons among different countries with respect to their levels and trends in income inequality, we need comparable data.
31 August 2016, 18:00 PM
Why do some countries trade more than others?
Heoretically, trade liberalisation results in productivity gains through increased competition, efficiency, innovation and acquisition of new technology.
12 June 2016, 18:00 PM
Political economy of regional integration
The aspiration for deeper regional integration is high on the political agenda of most of the leaders in South Asia. Since the early
11 April 2016, 18:00 PM
Is Bangladesh all set to be a middle income country?
BANGLADESH has recently been upgraded from low income country (LIC) to lower-middle income country (LMIC) as per the World Bank's classification.
5 March 2016, 18:00 PM
How to tackle 'entitlement failure' in infrastructure?
In the discourse on infrastructure and economic growth the dominant area of discussion is on the quantity and quality of infrastructure
2 February 2016, 18:00 PM
Making the most of the demographic dividend
As people's economic behaviour varies at different stages of life, changes in a country's age structure can have substantial effects on its economic performance.
18 January 2016, 18:00 PM
Demystifying non-tariff barriers in South Asia
In the initial years of SAARC in the 1980s, the popular hypothesis for the reason behind limited intra-regional trade was the prevailing
2 October 2015, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh needs a new investment regime
Looking at the trend in the investment-GDP ratio since 1979-80, we can suggest four different investment regimes in Bangladesh.
1 July 2015, 18:00 PM
Our garment industry at a crossroad
In order to maintain the competitive advantage, there is a tendency of putting downward pressure on workers' wages and benefits. In this context, for the workers' welfare, there is a critical need for reducing the cost of doing business in Bangladesh.
26 June 2015, 18:00 PM
From 'good-enough' jobs to 'decent' jobs
Though there are many views on 'inclusive growth', the key consensus is that inclusive growth is a growth process which reduces poverty, inequality and social exclusion and promotes 'decent' jobs and economic and social cohesion.
24 May 2015, 18:00 PM
Is it a sustained driver of economic growth and employment creation?
There is need for a well-designed and effective industrial policy wherein monetary (interest rate subsidies) and fiscal incentives (reduced taxes or tax holidays) should be transparent and time-bound.
8 May 2015, 18:00 PM