The corona-clenched economy: Changes and policies
Alan Greenspan, who led the US Federal Reserve for two decades, was summoned in congress and testified that the financial crisis of 2008-2009 was an economic tsunami which could happen once in a century.
Time to reform the finance ministry for robust growth
It is hard to achieve a growth of around 8 percent, and it will be even harder to maintain this trend unless we reform our ministry of finance (MOF) to steer the economy in the right direction. An MOF is usually the chief conductor of the orchestra of a country’s
Budget FY2019-20: New directions, old roads
This is the first time we noticed a prominent leader of the opposition using an appropriate word, “ambitious”, to describe the budget, instead of branding it as “anti-people.” This is a good sign because the first budget for a new finance minister should be forward-looking.
Saving our ailing banking sector
Bangladesh's banking sector faces a number of major challenges including rising nonperforming loans, credit concentrations, poor
The vicious impact of bureaucracy in business
When we were students, we hated red tapism—we spoke and wrote against it and vowed to change it in the future. But after being recruited into government service, we forgot our old promise, or dared not to talk about it.
A note on re-fixing interest rates on Sanchayapatra
Finally, the government has decided to re-fix interest rates on National Saving Certificates (NSCs) or Sanchayapatra. Hopefully, it will
Quota issue from an economic perspective
Truth shall prevail against lies and falsehood. And economic truths are often ruthless.
Crisis of skills and soaring unemployment
The recent quota movement, which was somehow quelled defying the logic of merit-based competition and fundamentals of a market economy, portrays a pathetic lack of skills among the youth of our nation.
May 7, 2018
Time to let the youth shine
Had Shakespeare been alive and the opportunity to visit Bangladesh, he would have withdrawn his poem, “Crabbed Age and Youth.” Instead, seeing Bangladesh's politicians, he would have written a new poem, “Shining Age and Subdued Youth.” Rabindranath too would disown his poem, “Expedition of the Youth (Taruner Abhijan).”
April 29, 2018
Why abolishing the quota system is necessary
While the prime minister's statement on quota abolition in public services has prevented a volcano from erupting, many are shedding crocodile tears to keep the unfair quota system with some temporary treatments; and so the call for reform continues.
April 22, 2018
No negative reporting, please!
Matern-al uncle, or mama, is an affectionate character in the lives of Bengalis. A typical mama is expected to indulge every whim of his nephews and nieces.
April 16, 2018
How about reforming the viva system next?
There aren't many moments in my life as an ordinary writer where my writings on banning the quota system have gone in vain. I had come to my workplace in the morning and finished the piece in three hours.
April 2, 2018
What does sliding into 'autocracy' really mean?
When I was a village boy, I learned from one of my grandparents that if I ever see a black cat, I shouldn't leave home to begin a journey for an auspicious cause. Later I realised that black cats are commonly visible in all villages and they come out of their dens particularly in the morning when most journeys are begun.
March 18, 2018
A journey by bus from Dhaka to Nalitabari
Shouldn't people derive delight from travelling? Then why is it such a nightmare for people who use public transport in Bangladesh? My short story of a journey by bus from Dhaka to Nalitabari may give readers a glimpse of why.
March 4, 2018
Central bank's cry for help
As a Bengali saying goes, “Don't dig a canal to let the crocodile enter.” Never has this been more fitting than now for Bangladesh Bank (BB) that is voluntarily inviting the interference of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) into all banking affairs, severely damaging the image of a fairly independent central bank.
February 26, 2018
Consequences of wrong economics
Martin Luther King once said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
February 20, 2018
It's all about institutions
Anyone who visits Dhaka for the first time may be excused for thinking that Bangladesh is a rich country with millions of automobiles.
February 11, 2018
Inflation phobia of central bank hampers growth
The latest monetary policy testifies that the central bank is behaving like the Germans who once regarded inflation as more dangerous than a bomb.
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