As we enter the third year of this decade, we have only seven more years until 2030 to tackle the major global problems of climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One significant dimension that has emerged in Bangladesh in recent decades is the expansion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Economists and policymakers, influenced by economists, tend to look at education as a homogeneous and highly aggregated category.

As we head into 2023, there is a sense of trepidation in the business landscape. As 2022 drew to a close, it felt at times like many companies were limping towards the end of the year.

We live in the age of data. Today, as I write this article nearing midnight, almost 2.5 quintillion bytes of data have been generated globally.

Bangladesh is poised to join the ranks of middle-income countries in 2026, and industrial growth will form the backbone of our economy as we make this transition.

In the last two months of 2022, two large global events took place on two continents flanking the Atlantic Ocean. In November, around 35,000 people met at the Egyptian tourist city of Sharm El-Sheikh for the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27).

Economic growth and business development are highly dependent on the business climate created by socio-economic policies and political decisions of governments.

Abdur Rashid Mia (32) from Narsingdi went to Saudi Arabia in June 2022. However, each step of his journey there was complicated – from getting his passport, to completing his medical check-ups, paying for his tickets and, finally, getting a job.

Bangladesh has come a long way in weaving its inspirational tale of incredible success as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Like the previous years, The Daily Star is proud to present to you yet another colourful, well-illustrated 216-page special supplement in five segments on the occasion of its 32nd Anniversary. SEGMENT 1, which appears today, is titled: “Towards a smart Bangladesh”; SEGMENT 2: “The changing middle-class story” will appear on February 13; SEGMENT 3: “Where Showbiz meets the Internet” on February 15; SEGMENT 4: “In with the new: Lifestyle Chronicles” on February 16; and SEGMENT 5: “Celebrating the inspirers” on February 19.

Despite overcoming its many economic challenges, one obstacle Bangladesh continues to struggle with is creating enough quality employment opportunities for its young population.

"[This] is an important collection of work to be made available to the architecture, planning and engineering community as a key cornerstone of continuing to build Bangladesh", Transcom GCEO Simeen Rahman writes in her foreword. 

Despite being small in terms of geography, Bangladesh currently ranks 8th in terms of population. Additionally, it is currently experiencing a demographic dividend, with 65.6% of its population being of working age.

It’s a tale of a little boy, moulded from the raw soils of a small town in the Jhenaidah district of Bangladesh, with lofty dreams. He swam against the currents of society at a very early age, to stay afloat in his river of artistic zeal. His dreams have carried him across seas in pursuit of liberty in the United States of America. He may have cloaked himself with the spell-bounding city lights of New York, but never forgot to nurture the small-town heart within.

Leading mobile financial service provider bKash has once again been ranked as the number one ‘Employer of Choice’ across all sectors for the third consecutive year, according to the results of the ‘Campus Track Survey B-school: 2022’ conducted by NielsenIQ.

“Competitions organised in our school have enriched our knowledge. We learned so many new things as well through this which turn our monotonous life into an interesting one. I really hope this continues and this happy learning journey keep continue in the long run”, said Lima Akhter, a student in 7th grade from Rangpur who attended annual campaigns in her school.

A five-year project has approached 331 School Management Committees (SMC) in the northern part of Bangladesh to ensure the health and other services for the students. SMCs of Nilphamari and Rangpur in the respective areas are becoming the changemakers through their leadership and cooperation jointly with the project titled Joint Action for Nutrition Outcome (JANO).

“We never had such in-depth knowledge about menstrual health or about physical and mental changes during the menstruation period. Sanitary napkins and other hygiene materials were not even accessible to us. Menstruation often caused being absent from the classes as well.”, expressed Akhi, a high school student of Ghonirampur Boro Gola High School of Taraganj Upazila under Rangpur.

“We are working for the adolescent, we’re listening to their physical and psychological issues carefully and trying to solve their problems within our reach. We are not only solving their problems but also discussing adolescent health and nutrition, physical and psychological changes in this period of life and many other things with them”, said Anowara Begum, a Family Welfare Officer in Motukpur Union Family Welfare Center under Domar upazila of Nilphamari.