Who pays the price for chronic budget underspending?
5 June 2026, 00:00 AM
Since fiscal year 2009-2010, Bangladesh’s budget has grown almost every year, with planned spending rising sevenfold to Tk 7.97 lakh crore in FY25. Yet not a single budget announced over the past 16 years has been fully implemented.
5 June 2026, 00:00 AM
Star Interview / Bangladesh has potential to be connectivity hub
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh has “great potential” to become a regional hub for transportation, logistics, energy and digital connectivity because of its strategic location between South and Southeast Asia, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda has said.
26 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Bangladesh has ‘great potential’ to become regional hub: ADB president
25 May 2026, 19:54 PM
On a two-day visit to Dhaka from May 24, the ADB chief met with the prime minister and finance minister
25 May 2026, 19:54 PM
Budget to include support for every group
20 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Finance minister says
20 May 2026, 00:00 AM
Budget to include support for every group
19 May 2026, 21:05 PM
Finance minister says
19 May 2026, 21:05 PM
Bangladesh should move up the global value chain: ADB
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
The study on GVCs, growth, and inequality was released yesterday
7 May 2026, 00:00 AM
ADB forecasts oil prices to be $96 this year
6 May 2026, 17:29 PM
The Manila-based lender downgrades growth projection for Asia and Pacific, including South Asia
6 May 2026, 17:29 PM
SMC: bettering lives in Bangladesh for 50yrs
Anyone of over 30 years of age might recall radio advertisements aired during their childhood and adolescence on contraceptives—Raja and Maya.
25 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Are rising exports, remittance the cure?
December has brought some good news! Remittance hit a record high, taking the total for the 2024 calendar year to $26.87 billion. Exports surged too, pushing the final annual figure to $50 billion.
2 January 2025, 18:00 PM
Economic woes far from over
Just a year ago, this newspaper ran a story leaving a question for our readers as to whether Bangladesh would be able to put its economy back on track in 2024.
30 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Jute millers struggling amid export slump
Jute millers are struggling as exports show no sign of recovery and demand in the domestic market remains lukewarm amid slack implementation of the mandatory jute packaging act.
14 December 2024, 18:00 PM
Govt must improve law and order fast
Improving law and order has become imperative in recovering Bangladesh’s global image that took a beating for domestic politics over the past decade, said a top chamber leader.
6 December 2024, 18:23 PM
Elected govt needed to revive economy
The sooner the country returns to a democratic process, the better it is for the economy, said top industrialist Ahsan Khan Chowdhury.
20 November 2024, 18:10 PM
Bangladesh loses $335m a year for corporate tax abuse
Bangladesh is losing $355 million in tax annually because of outward profit shifting by the corporates, particularly multinational firms, and abuses by individuals who have wealth, especially in tax havens.
19 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Political consensus needed to make reforms sustainable
Without proper institutions, it’s not possible to prevent abuse of power, prevent corruption, and improve public life, said business leader Abdul Awal Mintoo.
12 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Political consensus needed for sustainable reforms: Mintoo
Without proper institutions, it’s not possible to prevent abuse of power, prevent corruption, and improve public life, says business leader Abdul Awal Mintoo
12 November 2024, 13:53 PM
Widespread graft was the norm, not exception
The Awami League regime's economic strategy was not always based on equity.
11 November 2024, 18:29 PM
Govt gears up efforts to raise rice imports to curb prices
Against the backdrop of rising prices, the government has geared up efforts to buy rice from the international market to replenish stocks and ensure distributions under social safety net schemes to arrest market volatility.
5 November 2024, 18:00 PM
AL policy favouring oligarchs dampened economy
The Awami League government favoured the super-rich who controlled capital and laundered the funds aboard, dampening the country’s economy.
2 November 2024, 18:00 PM
Defying guidelines, NTTN operators yet to go public
Five of the six operators of Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) have not gone public despite being mandated to float shares on the stock market several years ago.
30 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Govt borrowing from banks rises as unrest hits tax collection
The government’s net borrowing from the banking system rose in the first two and half months of the current fiscal year in the face of falling tax collection and surging foreign debt servicing costs, raising concerns of a crowding out effect on private credit.
23 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Ban on polythene bags a boon for eco-friendly sack makers
Until early September this year, Mahfuza Begum’s Surzu Handicrafts was making eco-friendly, lightweight and reusable net shopping bags out of jute and cotton for a handful of buyers.
15 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Ban on plastic bags a boon for eco-friendly sacks
Availability of raw materials now a challenge
15 October 2024, 16:35 PM
Food inflation above 10% for half a year, why?
Experts say raising policy rate would have little impact on lowering food prices
13 October 2024, 14:24 PM
Why is Hilsa costlier despite increased harvest?
Hilsa remains dearer, although annual production of the most sought-after fish in Bangladesh has increased for the last several years.
11 October 2024, 18:00 PM
Of Hilsa and its hunters
On the corner of a crowded and noisy floor, a bespectacled man was calling out bids for a basket of Hilsa fish. He repeated the prices quoted by traders in a loud, rhythmic tone: “1,400-1,420-1,450…”
11 October 2024, 18:00 PM
No respite for jute goods makers from export fall
Bangladesh’s exports of jute and jute goods have been falling continuously as many buyers have switched to synthetic and regenerated cotton yarn due to high prices of the golden fibre in the domestic market.
10 October 2024, 18:00 PM