Inflation hits 11-year high
If there is one indicator that epitomises the government’s mismanagement of the economy in recent times, it is inflation -- which raced to an 11-year high of 9.94 percent in May.
A budget divorced from reality
Self-contradictory is what best describes Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal’s fifth budget, and the last of the Awami League-led government’s current term.
Bracing for budget of self-preservation
In 2019, when AHM Mustafa Kamal took charge as the finance minister, the Bangladesh economy was taxing for take-off for its long-haul flight to the developed country club.
Time to hit the reset button
This year was always supposed to be a celebration of Bangladesh’s economic progress with the opening of Padma bridge and Dhaka metro rail and 100 percent electrification.
What is Bangladesh's current forex reserve?
Ever since Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s economic turmoil, Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves has become a part of public discourse. So much so that despite having an official figure from the central bank every week, people are speculating.
Inflation at 9-year high
Inflation raced to a nine-year high of 7.56 percent in June, in a development that lays bare the extent of the cost of living crisis gripping the low-income and middle-class people in Bangladesh thanks to a war taking place some 5,800 kilometres away in Ukraine.
Budget 2022-23: Bet on poor, future
What is the purpose of the national budget? In essence, it is to allocate scarce resources.
May 20, 2022
Hopeless revenue target: No major tax hike planned
Wishy-washy -- is what best describes the government’s stance on scaling up its narrow revenue base, which is posing to become the Achilles’ heel to Bangladesh’s growth aspirations.
May 14, 2022
Record subsidy, but will it be enough?
Strange times are these in which we live when record subsidy allocation may still come short of what is needed.
May 12, 2022
Forex reserves under strain: Govt defers employees' foreign tours, less important projects
The government finally raised its guard against the dwindling dollar reserves, putting its employees’ foreign tours on hold and deferring projects that require much imports.
May 11, 2022
Economy firing on all cylinders
There are bright sparks in all corners of the economy, according to the provisional GDP figures for fiscal 2021-22, which do not show a hint of a pandemic hangover when others are still plodding along.
May 1, 2022
Tribute to Muhith: Farewell to architect of our economy’s golden era
When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina defiantly announced in 2012 that the Padma bridge would be built after the World Bank pulled out of the project, her gumption was not irrational.
April 29, 2022
Offshore Smart City: Can a parliamentary committee recommend a project to PM without due diligence?
Can a parliamentary standing committee recommend a project directly to the prime minister without any due diligence? The law explicitly does not permit it.
April 13, 2022
Bangladesh's $200m loan to Sri Lanka hangs in balance
When Bangladesh agreed to provide $250 million to Sri Lanka last year, little did it think that it would become a side character in the horror show that is unfolding in the island nation.
August 5, 2021
News Analysis: Why is the govt indulging Evaly so much?
What does one do when one sees wrongdoing taking place in front of one’s very eyes? For most, the natural response would be to stop it in its tracks.
July 29, 2021
A Snapshot of life: Tested positive, negative and the trouble
Grey area. The place between black and white -- and that is where life happens. This begs the question: shouldn’t the government’s communication be clear and concise for events that might fall in the grey area?
July 3, 2021
Bangladesh’s Promising Bourse: Cash-flush Americans can now invest easily
A hidden gem is what British banking giant HSBC dubbed Bangladesh's bourse earlier last month.
X