Paperwork over powerplay

One of my friends has been working with a government agency for the last three years on a project, bringing more than a decade of hard-earned experience to the table, as well as the rare distinction of having actually managed the kind of project they were struggling with.
25 September 2025, 18:00 PM

Samson H Chowdhury an entrepreneur who built his empire on ethics and values

Business must serve people: this was the principle Samson H Chowdhury lived by. He saw no conflict between business and ethics, only the possibility of using both as a force for good.
24 September 2025, 18:00 PM

Let the market decide IPO prices

For decades, Bangladesh's capital market has been trapped in a policy mistake of its own making: regulators, not the market, have set the prices of initial public offerings (IPOs).
24 September 2025, 18:00 PM

Scaling up our export diversification

When President Obama revoked Bangladesh’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) status in 2013, the direct economic shock was mild.
16 September 2025, 18:00 PM

Rebranding without losing the soul

Rebranding is often necessary at some point in a brand’s lifecycle, not as a sign of failure but as a deliberate strategy to remain relevant. Even well-known names such as Nokia, Burberry and Dunkin’ have altered their identities to keep pace with shifting consumer demands. Rebranding responds to changes in consumer behaviour, technology, culture and competition. The difficulty is to evolve without sacrificing the essential qualities that won customers in the first place.
14 September 2025, 18:00 PM

Beyond the split: real tax reform needed to unlock Bangladesh's development

The separation of policy and operational functions is a good step. It reflects international best practices
13 May 2025, 09:51 AM

Bracing for a tariff storm

In trade, as in life, one decision from far away can unravel years of careful effort.
5 April 2025, 08:42 AM

VAT, tax hikes: Short-sighted state policies to hurt people

The current high level of inflation has already placed significant financial pressure on the common people, and increasing taxes in this context will create even more strain
10 January 2025, 14:55 PM

Fixing our banks. Building a more robust banking system

When asked why he robbed banks, the famous American bank robber, Willie Sutton, famously quipped “because that’s where the money is.” It seems that many of our leading business leaders have adopted a similar mindset over the past fifteen years. Regrettably for our nation, they have become alarmingly adept at robbing banks
2 September 2024, 11:06 AM

Quota system: a storm in a teacup

In the last one week, Bangladesh has been in the grip of student unrest over the quota system, rendering discussions over its merits and demerits a household phenomenon. Steering away from political discussions, this assessment attempts to evaluate the socio-economic impact of the quota system on our government's vision of a Smart Bangladesh
24 July 2024, 10:06 AM

Not much beyond lip service 

Let’s begin with the central question to gauge what more this MPS could have done to increase the potency of monetary policy in restoring macro-financial stability. 
18 July 2024, 13:29 PM

Good budget, bad budget

The finance minister on Thursday placed the budget for fiscal year 2024-25, which is 4.6 percent bigger than the ongoing one. The increase is much lower than the average inflation seen in the last few years, reflecting the monetary constraints the government is facing as well as some of the realities of the crisis which commands a certain extent of belt-tightening
8 June 2024, 16:20 PM

How to build a sustainable, ethical, and profitable business

The temptation to prioritise quick profits over long-term sustainability and ethics is predominant.
4 June 2024, 18:05 PM

AMA Muhith: a defining character

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, the former finance minister of Bangladesh, and more importantly, one of the architects of Bangladesh's economic development, left an undeniable legacy upon his passing, more than two years ago.
1 June 2024, 18:05 PM

Winning over your boss

Pleasing your boss can sometimes feel like the game of Tom & Jerry, where you are Jerry trying desperately to avoid being Tom’s next kill.
24 May 2024, 08:28 AM

Where is the economy heading?

This is exactly the question I came across from the investment community in the US, India, and Singapore in the last one month or so. They asked where the exchange rate may settle down and the local currency borrowing rate may go. If they invest in Bangladesh, will they be able to take back their return on investments timely and easily?
12 May 2024, 07:19 AM

A tribute to Mirza Azizul Islam

Mirza Aziz, a strong figure in Bangladesh’s bureaucracy, has made significant contributions to the nation’s economic development
21 April 2024, 05:02 AM

Manage five basics of personal finance to grow your savings

When inflation is nearly 10 percent but the increase of income is lower than the rate, how a person then will manage his personal finance to save for the future?
26 March 2024, 00:00 AM

MFS faces growing risk of fraud

The mobile financial service (MFS) has enhanced our access to goods and services, diversified payment methods, and expanded commercial opportunities, but the sector still faces challenges.
25 March 2024, 15:20 PM

Understanding Carbon Neutrality & Debt

Comparing our current days with five years back from now we can easily comprehend the fact that temperature is rising and as a result we feel scorching heat every year.
18 February 2024, 14:25 PM