Hossain Zillur Rahman

The writer is executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre and former adviser to the caretaker government.

How much do we know about our emerging ‘new rural’?

“New rural” will be a critical player in the next chapter of Bangladesh’s transformation.

‘Louha tribhuj’ and the political economy of development

A political economy lens is needed to understand the current situation of Bangladesh.

Akbar Ali Khan: Life of service, voice of conscience

His death is a loss for the nation.

The challenge of democratising the ‘middle income’ dream

Fifty years ago, the dominant concern of citizens and observers alike was about the economic future of newly independent Bangladesh.

Development and political leadership: China’s Wang Huning and new perspectives

We have all become accustomed to the economic story of China, its astonishing success in reducing poverty, its emergence as the economic powerhouse of the 21st century and its infrastructural ambitions expressed through the Belt and Road Initiative.

When entrepreneurship can be a public good

My friend Fouzul Kabir Khan’s recent book, “Win: How Public Entrepreneurship Can Transform the Developing World”, has brought back an issue critical to the development discourse in these pandemic times.

Bangladesh economy through a “turning point’ lens

The economy of Bangladesh has come a long way in the past 50 years. The enduring image of Bangladesh earlier was that of a disaster victim.

Opinion: A time for truths

It is 58 days since the first Covid-19 infection was recorded in Bangladesh. February now feels like a distant memory, even early March.

Women must have the right to choose

First there was Mexico City in 1984. Then there was Cairo in 1994. Now there is Nairobi in November 2019. The global community has dealt with the issue of population in these mega-conclaves.

Poverty’s Third Frontier

When Bangladesh gained independence nearly five decades ago, poverty was the default condition for over 80 percent of the population.

The truths about the budget that we fail to see

The recently-concluded budget season had to play second fiddle to the cricket season. And why not? Cricket is about passion, budget rarely so. The new finance minister has a foot in both of these worlds holding, as he does, the Comilla Victorians franchise. Mr Mustafa Kamal

Are policy blind spots driving the urban mess?

Accelera-ting urbanisation is the defining story of contemporary Bangladesh. Projections show that by 2050 urban population will overtake rural population. As Bangladesh hurtles towards its urban future, what a storyline of contradictory hues is unfolding!

A 'new normal'?

In its 48th year, Bangladesh faces a new existential question to ponder. What now passes as “normal”?

The Crisis is Impunity

Howsoever one tries to explain it, the death of Dia and Rajib, the two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College, on the Airport Road ten or so fateful days ago, can never be called an “accident”.

Middle-income Bangladesh has to be a healthy Bangladesh

Economic progress is meaningless if the people are not healthy enough to enjoy the progress. As Bangladesh pursues its dream of becoming a middle-income country, this dream must also be one of a Healthy Bangladesh.

Health challenges are more complex than ever

Though billed as a successor to the widely-known Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the new global goals — SDGs or Sustainable Development Goals — push humanity's ambitions much further and much wider.

REPORT CARD ON MR. MUHITH

AL'S affable finance minister is a lucky man having done the national budget more number of times than any other finance minister.

February 10, 2023
February 10, 2023

How much do we know about our emerging ‘new rural’?

“New rural” will be a critical player in the next chapter of Bangladesh’s transformation.

September 29, 2022
September 29, 2022

‘Louha tribhuj’ and the political economy of development

A political economy lens is needed to understand the current situation of Bangladesh.

September 9, 2022
September 9, 2022

Akbar Ali Khan: Life of service, voice of conscience

His death is a loss for the nation.

January 2, 2022
January 2, 2022

The challenge of democratising the ‘middle income’ dream

Fifty years ago, the dominant concern of citizens and observers alike was about the economic future of newly independent Bangladesh.

August 5, 2021
August 5, 2021

Development and political leadership: China’s Wang Huning and new perspectives

We have all become accustomed to the economic story of China, its astonishing success in reducing poverty, its emergence as the economic powerhouse of the 21st century and its infrastructural ambitions expressed through the Belt and Road Initiative.

June 13, 2021
June 13, 2021

When entrepreneurship can be a public good

My friend Fouzul Kabir Khan’s recent book, “Win: How Public Entrepreneurship Can Transform the Developing World”, has brought back an issue critical to the development discourse in these pandemic times.

March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021

Bangladesh economy through a “turning point’ lens

The economy of Bangladesh has come a long way in the past 50 years. The enduring image of Bangladesh earlier was that of a disaster victim.

May 5, 2020
May 5, 2020

Opinion: A time for truths

It is 58 days since the first Covid-19 infection was recorded in Bangladesh. February now feels like a distant memory, even early March.

November 12, 2019
November 12, 2019

Women must have the right to choose

First there was Mexico City in 1984. Then there was Cairo in 1994. Now there is Nairobi in November 2019. The global community has dealt with the issue of population in these mega-conclaves.

October 27, 2019
October 27, 2019

Poverty’s Third Frontier

When Bangladesh gained independence nearly five decades ago, poverty was the default condition for over 80 percent of the population.