Selim Raihan

Exports stood at around $48 billion, down by 0.58 percent from the previous year, despite a sharp June increase. This means the rebound came too late to change the annual picture. It may signal some recovery in orders, delayed shipment adjustments, or short-term buyer confidence. But it does not prove that the export sector has regained strength.

Every year, the national budget contains some good initiatives.

Budgets often reveal more through their tensions than through their promises. The proposed budget for FY2026-27 is no exception.

Bangladesh has reached a point where social protection can no longer be treated as a set of small compensatory programmes for the poor.

Bangladesh’s participation in global value chains remains narrow and concentrated in low-value segments.

The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) carries an uncomfortable message for Bangladesh.

The 2026-27 budget comes at a critical moment for the country.

The United States’ recent decision to launch two separate investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974—one concerning global industrial overcapacity and another focusing on forced labour—signals a sharper turn in Washington’s trade policy.