Is the Trump administration committing war crimes in Venezuela?
2 January 2026
Since September last year, the Trump administration has taken a hard line against Venezuela.
2 January 2026
Uncertain politics, unsettling economy
7 December 2025
Bangladesh's much-anticipated parliamentary elections are scheduled for next February. And they could not have come at a more fraught time for the country. More than 16 months have passed since the interim administration took office, and unofficial estimates indicate a downward trend in the government's approval ratings.
7 December 2025
Can Mamdani deliver on the issues that secured his win?
10 November 2025
This was the first election since Trump took office in January that provided an opportunity to gauge voters' current political mood.
10 November 2025
Japan has opened its door for Bangladesh, let’s not ruin it
25 October 2025
Bangladesh plans to send one lakh people to Japan over the next five years.
25 October 2025
Will the upcoming election stabilise Bangladesh-India relations?
14 October 2025
There are several areas where Bangladesh and India can collaborate.
14 October 2025
Remembering Salahuddin Ahmed, a mentor and friend
28 September 2025
Salahuddin Ahmed had a career that only a few can imagine.
28 September 2025
AN OPEN DIALOGUE / Ukraine’s peace lies in compromise
25 August 2025
Before Biden, various US presidents had respected an unwritten understanding between Russia and the West that Ukraine would not be invited to join NATO.
25 August 2025
AN OPEN DIALOGUE / Why opinion polls still matter
10 August 2025
Opinion polls are, in a sense, a necessary evil. They can often incur the wrath of those in power, or of individuals whose views are not corroborated by, or match, the information provided by a survey.
10 August 2025
Why economic forecasting is now trickier than before
Bangladesh has some very difficult—and one could say unpredictable—times ahead in the coming years.
22 January 2022
My reflections and hopes for the new year
I cannot say for sure what 2022 will bring for every person on this planet, but for me it signifies a bend in the road. Last year is gone, and I can only hope that the new one will bring for us all exciting experiences, fewer worries, new opportunities, and more fulfilment.
8 January 2022
New variant, same old travel woes
Covid-19 has taken a big toll on the tourism industry in countries that rely on foreign visitors. As new waves of infections take hold and ever-changing rules
25 December 2021
Graduation to Middle-Income Status: Bangladesh must address institutional weaknesses
The news that Bangladesh has been placed on a list of countries graduating from least developed status has generated a lot of excitement in the national media, as well as in government circles.
11 December 2021
Carbon Tax is Not Dead
At the just-concluded COP26 meeting in Glasgow, the idea of carbon tax received renewed attention.
27 November 2021
COP26: A meta-perspective
Was COP26, held in Glasgow, a success or a failure? It appears everyone has a different opinion about what the two-week-long summit achieved.
20 November 2021
The kitchen market is on fire, thanks to the recent inflation
I regularly scan the headlines of Bangla newspapers. Recently, I came across several news items with headers that go along the line “Bajare agun, purchhey shadharon manush,” meaning “The market is ablaze and the ordinary consumers are burning.”
13 November 2021
The need to improve our worker’s compensation system
My fellow columnist, Shuprova Tasneem, was recently lamenting the lack of fair wages and workplace safety in Bangladesh.
30 October 2021
What’s new about the 2021 Nobel Laureates in economics?
One of the most eagerly anticipated Nobel Prizes is awarded in the category of Economic Sciences and this year three Americans were honoured.
16 October 2021
How to fix the mess in the power sector?
The power sector in Bangladesh could be considered a success story. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognise energy as a key enabler for development (cf. Goal 7).
8 October 2021
Covid vaccination: Third dose versus the first dose
The current debate over the necessity, cost, and effectiveness of the third dose or “booster shots” for Covid is generating a lot of heat.
25 September 2021
The multi-dimensional challenges of resuscitating the Afghan economy
The USA observed the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 11, 2021, on the same day the Taliban raised its white flag on the Presidential Palace in Kabul to celebrate their victory.
18 September 2021
Building a better world after the pandemic
Under the current global configuration, the roles played by the two rival superpowers USA and China will be pivotal not only in the geopolitical sphere, but their respective strengths will also determine the trajectory of trade patterns, economic hegemony, and world power alignment.
4 September 2021
The Afghan government and its future
The sudden collapse of the US-backed Ghani regime in Afghanistan and the scenes of the evacuation of American citizens at Kabul Airport brought back some deep-buried memories of mine from another era.
29 August 2021
What can we do if inflation is back?
Why talk about inflation in the midst of the pandemic, one might ask. The answer is simple, if somewhat unpleasant. Inflation may soon be making a comeback!
19 August 2021
The effect of the Delta variant in uncertain times
For Bangladesh, the Delta variant of Covid-19 virus couldn’t have come at a worse time. Starting in January, our infection rate had been going down and was below 300 per day in mid-February.
5 August 2021
Crisis in the oil market and EU’s new environmental plan
Two recent news items, apparently unrelated, caught my attention.
24 July 2021
To overcome vaccine apartheid, we need solid plans
It bears repeating that vaccines are essential for protection against the deadly coronavirus. We’ve seen how the virus spares no one and targets the most vulnerable people, including those who have pre-existing health conditions or comorbidities.
8 July 2021
Why can’t they get their fair share in our budget?
In Bangladesh, while the pandemic has impacted businesses of all sizes, plus life and livelihood, evidence is mounting that the enterprises that employ between 1 and 249 workers—officially the micro, small and medium enterprises—are bearing the brunt of the economic slowdown.
26 June 2021
Will G7 and COP26 herald a new era?
As the world strives to fast-forward the economy in an attempt to recover from the pandemic, climate change has rightly emerged as a major concern in all international forums.
10 June 2021