Column

Export competitiveness through currency adjustment

Export performance of Bangladesh in the recent past has been somewhat gloomy. During July-December 2016, Bangladesh's exports grew by only 4.4 percent which was targeted to achieve a growth of 8 percent.
15 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Why institutions are so important for growth

In 1900, Argentina looked like a promising country with respectable growth. It was queueing to be an industrialised country like many other western European nations.
14 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Finding the best outcome

Following an investigation launched in October 2015 by the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, on January 5, 2017, India imposed substantial 'anti-dumping duty' on imports of jute and jute goods from Bangladesh.
14 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Climate compensation

The issue of loss and damage from climate change has been a very politically contentious issue in the international negotiations under
11 January 2017, 18:00 PM

A lexicon for ugliness

Every society has its articles of faith. The strength of a society depends on the extent to which its articles of faith match the realities
11 January 2017, 18:00 PM

“Victory for Democracy” indeed!

The two major parties celebrated January 5 this year in different ways, as they have been doing since 2014. But to start with, the BNP's
11 January 2017, 18:00 PM

The upside down era

This year, many of us read about 'listening hairbrushes' taking control of our split ends, toothbrushes filming the inside of our mouths, beds reacting to a person's sleeping position, cars learning from the brains of drivers, like the Concept-i car by Toyota, which, with an advanced artificial intelligence system, can act as a faithful dog or a pining boyfriend.
10 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Schoolbag, judicial activism and the deficits

We commend the Apex Court for their timely and sensitive decision to limit the weight of school bags that students are forced to carry, due to ever increasing number of books, notebooks and other material.
9 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Giving equal opportunities for youth

Recently, I had the unique opportunity to interact with more than fifty children aged around sixteen years. They had just finished their tenth grade at school.
8 January 2017, 18:00 PM

The quirks and perks of getting old

Aging and quirkiness are like Siamese twins and can seldom be separated. This is why as you grow older you will inadvertently acquire a good dose of crankiness and a bucketful of eccentricities that the young (and cruel) will snicker about behind your back.
7 January 2017, 18:00 PM

The complexity of simplicity

Recently, I have been reflecting on the act of giving gifts. My thoughts were partially triggered by the frenzied shopping sprees I witnessed during the Christmas season in the United States.
7 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Will women change the world economy?

About eight years ago when the financial crisis hit Iceland, a tiny island with a population of 320,000, most Icelanders found themselves in serious financial tribulations.
4 January 2017, 18:00 PM

The biggest underreported stories of 2016

The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organised habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society.
3 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Graduating from the 'Least Developed Country' status

Thus when it comes to the issue of how to deal with the adverse impacts of human-induced climate change Bangladesh is already well out of being an LDC and on the way to being a global leader on adaptation to climate change.
3 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Aiming for higher growth in 2017

The challenges on the international front the year 2017 will pose will be less impactful than domestic debility in private investment. Macro stability will continue to persist without remarkable improvement in the financial sector.
2 January 2017, 18:00 PM

A tribute to a scout leader

The earth is not blessed every other day by a teacher as principled in his thought, word and deed, by a trainer as versatile in every aspect of training, by a person equally amicable to the young and the old as Monir Sarker Sir.
1 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Moving forward beyond 2017

The most shocking incidence of 2016 has been the terrorist attack in Holey Artisan Bakery. The nature of the attack was different from earlier single incidences where religious militants killed members of minority groups, two foreigners and a number of bloggers.
1 January 2017, 18:00 PM

Reality bites of 2016

I think the biggest lesson we learnt in 2016 is that we have been living in a bubble of delusion - about the kind of world we live in.
31 December 2016, 18:00 PM

2016 Annus horribilis

There are good reasons to call 2016 a horrible year, and I am sure most of us will be glad to see the back of 2016. To say that it was a
31 December 2016, 18:00 PM

Female terrorists: What is so new?

Are we reading too much into the involvement of women in terrorist acts in Bangladesh? This by no means is a new spectacle. The so
28 December 2016, 18:26 PM