The year has brought about new global changes that our country must now face, which will in turn impact our personal and financial management.

The debt trap is a serious issue and has a lot of relevance to our current financial situation. Even after three or so tumultuous years, both in terms of COVID-19 and an economic slowdown, we feel it is not over yet.

Savings schemes are a semblance of hope for the future, especially amidst the uncertainty of 2023 and beyond.

Building a society ‘free from exploitation’ was one of the primary goals of the Constitution we founded in 1972.

Sexual abuse can be the most traumatising experience a child has to go through. The memory of how helpless they felt, to be too young to raise their voices haunts them for the rest of their lives;

The relationship between children’s mental health and their overall quality of life is heavily interconnected as it influences their academic performance, interpersonal relationships, and even physical health.

Palliative and hospice care were introduced in the western medical field decades ago. In Bangladesh, the concept is new, and lacks proper research and resources.

Every year, thousands of Bangladeshi patients travel abroad in search of better medical treatment despite the availability of similar services within the country.

Abdur Rashid Mia (32) from Narsingdi went to Saudi Arabia in June 2022. However, each step of his journey there was complicated – from getting his passport, to completing his medical check-ups, paying for his tickets and, finally, getting a job.

Bangladesh has come a long way in weaving its inspirational tale of incredible success as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Like the previous years, The Daily Star is proud to present to you yet another colourful, well-illustrated 216-page special supplement in five segments on the occasion of its 32nd Anniversary. SEGMENT 1, which appears today, is titled: “Towards a smart Bangladesh”; SEGMENT 2: “The changing middle-class story” will appear on February 13; SEGMENT 3: “Where Showbiz meets the Internet” on February 15; SEGMENT 4: “In with the new: Lifestyle Chronicles” on February 16; and SEGMENT 5: “Celebrating the inspirers” on February 19.

Despite overcoming its many economic challenges, one obstacle Bangladesh continues to struggle with is creating enough quality employment opportunities for its young population.

As per the decision of the UN General Assembly held in November 2021, Bangladesh is set to graduate out of the group of least developed countries (LDCs) on November 24, 2026, about 50 years after it first became a member of this cohort of developing countries in December 1975.

How often have you heard the term “hundi” recently? I would bet quite a few times, especially if you’ve been following the worried discussions surrounding the cost-of-living crisis and economic downturn, both at home and abroad.

Energy crises are not rare, but a crisis of this magnitude that tends to derail world economic progress is.

​​​​​​​The United Nations Committee on Development Policy (UN-CDP) determined in February 2021 that Bangladesh has satisfied all three requirements to graduate from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC) for the second time.

If you ask someone from a country with a decent economy whether the central bank should be allowed to exercise independence in its policymaking, they will say that not giving independence to the central bank is like letting someone drive a car while keeping their hands tied behind their back. The question is not why, but how to give more independence to the institution.

Bangladesh is poised to join the ranks of middle-income countries in 2026, and industrial growth will form the backbone of our economy as we make this transition.

The agriculture sector is one of the key economic pillars of Bangladesh. Just after liberation in 1971, its contribution to GDP was around 60 percent.

Fossil fuel and electricity subsidy is widely provided all over the world. A subsidy is a product of the political economy. Access to affordable energy is now a basic human right.