The thinking, creative instincts and sense of purpose of Gen Z are quite different from those of previous generations. Even when it comes to something as emotional as owning a home, we find them more calculated about what they want from life and where a home fits into that visio

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) made Tk 4,316 crore in profit last year. Yet, between March and August this year, it incurred losses of around Tk 22,875 crore.

Bangladesh's payment numbers tell a striking story. Between July 2023 and April 2026, the monthly value recorded under internet banking more than tripled, while that of mobile financial services (MFS) roughly doubled.

A young executive is invited into the boss’s room. The boss smiles, offers tea and announces, “Congratulations, you have been promoted.” The employee asks four questions: How much more will I earn? How many people will I manage? Will I have greater authority? And must I answer WhatsApp messages at midnight? By the fourth answer, congratulations sounds suspiciously like condolences.

The recent severe disruption in card-related transactions across 30 to 33 commercial banks in Bangladesh—triggered by a migration attempt by IT Consultants Limited (ITCL)—has provided a striking case study for the nation's financial and capital markets.

Last week, I struggled to get change for a Tk 500 note to pay a Tk 30 rickshaw fare.

Last June, my college alumnus, currently a Commissioner of Taxes, came to see me on a social call.

Last week, a friend called after learning that Bangladesh Bank had given initial approval to five digital banks, including bKash Digital Bank, Boost backed by Robi Axiata, Nova backed by VEON and Square, DK Digital Bank and Kori, approved under the earlier political regime.

Bangladesh has built an efficient crisis factory. Take one unfortunate incident, add instant defence and political ego, invite television panels, and the issue disappears. The tragedy becomes a serial, the victim a suspect, and everyone else a supporting actor. Ratings rise.

The regulator has already told digital banks where to play. They cannot finance foreign trade or offer term loans to medium and large industries. Their field is the individual and the small business, precisely the customers conventional banking has neglected

The decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 9.5 percent is understandable.

In today’s fast-paced world, where professional achievements are often celebrated as the ultimate measure of success, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters: our health.

Ideally, responsibility should not need to be forced. But if voluntary efforts have not been sufficient, a minimum regulatory push may be justified. What matters is what happens beyond that minimum

Some knew M Saifur Rahman much better than I did. Some sat across the cabinet table with him. Others learned from him at a respectful distance.

Bangladesh welcomes foreign investors with summits and enough PowerPoint slides to illuminate Dhaka. When one retreats, the ceremony is quieter. It becomes a “strategic realignment,” the regulator calls it a business decision, and everyone hopes the logo remains long enough for the next investment brochure.

For years, the success of a bank CEO in Bangladesh has been judged by numbers such as loan growth, deposits, profit, market share and business expansion.

Bangladesh’s apparel exporters shipped $38.825 billion worth of garments in calendar year 2025, worth celebrating on its own terms.

Citi and PwC taught me different things, but the most important lessons from both institutions were surprisingly similar.

Citi and PwC taught me different things, but the most important lessons from both institutions were surprisingly similar. Whether you are running a bank, advising a business or leading a team, you are ultimately dealing with the same thing: trust. It takes years to build, but only moments to lose

Bangladeshi entrepreneurs collaborate brilliantly at weddings, trade-body elections and occasionally when a tax proposal threatens everyone. Ask them to share technology, research or infrastructure, however, and the room suddenly develops a trust deficit larger than the national budget.