A society does not wake up one morning and discover that it has become violent. It drifts into that state gradually, much like how dampness spreads inside walls. By the time the cracks become visible, the foundation has already weakened.

When undertaken thoughtfully, deregulation can indeed reduce compliance costs and delays, lower barriers for small and medium enterprises, improve transparency and predictability, and enhance competitiveness and investment. But that is only one side of the story.

For Bangladesh, exporters should plan for possible delays, even where the scheduled transit time is unchanged. When ocean schedules become volatile, brands often push urgent top-ups by air or at least move samples and approvals by air. But air is also being hit.

Unless Bangladesh makes efforts to control power generation costs, price hikes alone will not significantly minimise the subsidy burden.

Banks do not assess whether the goods are satisfactory; they assess whether the documents comply exactly with what the buyer’s bank has stipulated. Even a minor inconsistency can turn a clean transaction into a delayed one.

As Bangladesh’s women prepared to face China at the AFC Women's Asian Cup, pride did not feel rhetorical.

Prior to cultivating any crop, farmers naturally wonder whether they can earn a profit from it or not. In other words, the prospect of profit is what motivates them to cultivate a certain crop.

Our current image, built on resilience under difficult conditions, is admirable but insufficient for the next chapter.

When perpetrators act with confidence, it is often because consequences appear uncertain, distant, or negotiable.

Bangladesh’s export success has never been just about competitive labour or entrepreneurial energy.

The removal of Ahsan H Mansur as Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor has been an entirely avoidable drama.

If dominance is present, the border between “agreement” and “compliance” becomes difficult to distinguish

Many expected Dr Ahsan H Mansur to complete his full term, till August 2028.

What the statement didn’t say is what really matters. It didn’t name the United States or Israel—the countries that launched the strikes without any provocation.

Social protection is not charity. It is an economic policy.

For years, Bangladesh’s health sector has struggled with neglect.

Within hours of the Tehran strikes, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones at Israel as well as US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.

The selection process of the central bank governor in all developed countries is highly rigorous.

The Madhabdi case carries additional layers that make it more uncomfortable. There have been allegations of prior sexual violence, and of local arbitration.

Pakistan knows that invading Afghanistan would be a nightmare: the terrain is unforgiving, the Taliban are experienced guerrilla fighters, and any occupation would trigger wider regional reactions.