The nodding trap

Alignment is often achieved the way we achieve traffic discipline: everyone honks, nobody moves, and yet each driver is fully confident that the jam is caused by someone else.
19 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Critical analysis of the national budget of Bangladesh for FY27: an economic outlook

The budget projects GDP (gross domestic product) growth of 6.5 percent and inflation of 7.5 percent for 2026-27 fiscal year. Both targets warrant serious scrutiny.
18 June 2026, 17:15 PM

Middle class faces a quiet tax squeeze

The personal income tax structure proposed under the Finance Bill 2026 has been presented as a progressive reform, offering relief to lower-income earners while helping the government mobilise much-needed revenue.
18 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Can stimulus revive economy?

Governor Mostaqur Rahman has remained true to his announcement. He committed to helping reopen closed factories and has launched stimulus packages to create synergy in the economy, though much depends on commercial banks, government guarantees and, more importantly, entrepreneurs themselves.
16 June 2026, 00:00 AM

The compliance budget

Every budget tells a story. Some focus on spending, some on growth and some on reform.
15 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Who benefits from digital relief?

In Bangladesh, we have a special talent for feeding the stable owner, polishing the saddle, praising the horse and then wondering why the rider is still walking barefoot.
14 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Are we ready for the chip era?

Bangladesh is at a moment of silent but significant transformation. One driven by technology, skills development and industrial diversification amid economic pressures and global uncertainty. This is the time to think clearly and plan ahead.
11 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Time to review tax deduction at source provisions on bank and NBFI deposits

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has prescribed tax deduction at source (TDS) on interest earned from savings and fixed deposits under the Income Tax Act 2023, as amended by the Finance Ordinance 2025
7 June 2026, 20:18 PM

Should BB cut rates in the middle of an energy shock?

As Bangladesh Bank prepares its next Monetary Policy Statement, expected by the end of June, one question looms over the entire exercise: should the policy rate remain at 10 percent, or is it time to begin easing?
7 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Budget: Old wine in a new bottle?

A national budget is more than a statement of revenue and expenditure. It reflects a government’s economic philosophy, political priorities and development strategy.
7 June 2026, 00:00 AM

The theatre of compliance

We have a tradition. When we cannot solve a problem, we form a committee. When we do not want to solve it, we form an inquiry committee.
5 June 2026, 00:00 AM

The USTR's forced-labour import ban initiative: implications and options for Bangladesh

The latest USTR proposal on forced-labour-related import restrictions raises issues that go well beyond Bangladesh’s immediate export interests.
4 June 2026, 16:29 PM

Preparing Bangladesh for a disruptive global era

Bangladesh is one of the fastest-growing economies, with expanding trade and GDP growth of around 4 percent.
4 June 2026, 00:00 AM

More time for reform, not more time for delay

The UN CDP’s recommendation to consider an extension of Bangladesh’s preparatory period for LDC graduation is a highly significant development
3 June 2026, 01:57 AM

Fix gas buying, not just the subsidy bill

In the first days of March, Petrobangla went looking for an emergency cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and no seller would bid.
3 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Banks must increase their capital

The recent decline in the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio, from 35.73 percent in September 2025 to 30.60 percent in December, may appear encouraging.
2 June 2026, 00:00 AM

We need a new industrial policy

The World Bank recently released two important reports. One is Industrial Policy for Development: Approaches in the 21st Century.
1 June 2026, 00:00 AM

Buying a flat or renting a better life?

For many middle-class families in Bangladesh, especially in Dhaka, buying a flat is seen as a safe and respectable financial achievement.
31 May 2026, 19:14 PM

Economics of Qurbani

Eid-ul-Azha in Bangladesh is no longer merely a religious observance; it has evolved into one of the country’s largest seasonal economic cycles.
24 May 2026, 00:00 AM

Bangladesh risks losing franchise investment over tax complexity

Bangladesh’s economy is currently at a crucial turning point. On one side, the country faces global economic uncertainty, a dollar crisis, stagnant investment, and rising unemployment.
23 May 2026, 19:14 PM