Badrul Huda Sohel : Among many, two recent reports on banking arena published in different media have deepened our concern...
Bangladesh’s graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026 is a cause for celebration. Yet, beneath the confetti lurks a hidden threat – billions in lost exports due to eroded trade preferences. The government’s proposed duty reductions on 282 products are a welcome first step, but they resemble a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. The real issue lies with Bangladesh’s sky-high customs duties compared to the global average. This discourages major trading partners from signing the free-trade agreements (FTAs)...
Dr Matiur Rahman : Erik Olin Wright, a distinguished sociologist renowned for analysing class structures, has provided a framework that...
Dhaka WASA authorities have decided to raise the water tariff by 10 percent from 1 July. According to the decision, they have set Tk 16.70 per 1,000 litres from Tk 15.18 per 1,000 litres for residential customers and for commercial customers; it will be Tk 46.20 per 1,000 litres from the existing price of Tk 42 per 1,000 litres. Questions have been raised over the logic behind the water price hike. As per the circular, the revised price will also...
Alaul Alam : In recent years the country has reaped the benefits of rapid digitalization and promises to continue with...
The newly unveiled budget for Bangladesh’s fiscal year 2024-25 has sparked mixed reactions from the business community. While the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) lauds the government’s efforts towards a comprehensive fiscal plan, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) raises concerns about implementation challenges. The MCCI highlights the potential for a widening budget deficit due to ongoing tax reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These reforms aim to increase the tax-GDP ratio by...
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed : Every year the budget comes, the budget goes. Budget should speak to the good of...
The Bangladesh government’s recent decision to allow the “whitening” of black money through a 15% tax payment has ignited a firestorm of criticism from economists and anti-corruption watchdogs. This move contradicts the Awami League’s pre-election promise to crack down on undeclared wealth and corruption. Proponents, including the government, argue that the scheme will increase cash flow into the economy. However, past efforts have yielded meagre results. Critics like Prof. Mustafizur Rahman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue condemned the policy...
Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed : Every year budget comes, budget goes. Budget should speak the good of the common people....
Enayetullah Khan : The Shangri-La Dialogue that was just held in Singapore provides a sense of the direction in which...
The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka and the Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) in a joint survey said the prevailing business climate in the fiscal year 2023-24 has worsened, much to the disappointment of the business community. The survey was conducted and scored on a matrix of 11 key indicators that measure the physical condition of the business environment of the country. According to media reports, the areas covered include initiation of business, land availability, access to legal...
Bangladesh, where agriculture reigns supreme, faces a terrifying prospect – its fertile land is disappearing at an alarming rate. Every year, an area roughly the size of Dhaka city loses its ability to sustain crops. Experts warn that at this pace, the country could have virtually no cultivable land within the next 63 years. This translates to a stark reality – a nation teetering on the brink of a food security crisis. The culprits behind this vanishing farmland are multifaceted....