Asad Islam

Bangladesh's ambitious social security budget introduces the Family Card, requiring transparent targeting to genuinely protect vulnerable households.

Public debate has been energetic but confusing. People hear "universal" in one statement, then "starting with the ultra-poor" in another, then learn of a pilot in selected upazilas. These are not details for technicians to iron out later.

Over the past few decades, Bangladesh has made significant progress in expanding access to education, moving from a setting where schooling was a privilege to one where it is both a legal obligation and a widely accepted social norm.

In Bangladesh, the Covid-19 pandemic hit economic players all at once.