Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, managing director of BuildCon Consultancies Ltd

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed

AI turns zeroes into heroes

Over a sundowner near the Sundarbans, “Nabila Apa” mocked her nephew’s AI-equipped drone for wildlife surveying, insisting her binoculars and field notes were unbeatable. By dusk, the drone had mapped three islands; Nabila Apa was still zooming in on a single kingfisher. Moral of the story: whether tracking tigers or deer, embracing AI beats binoculars every time.

1d ago

When the watchdogs sleep

The inquiry committee – the corporate world’s ultimate weapon of mass distraction. These panels, ornamented with terms of reference and corporate lingo, have gained global recognition not for delivering justice but for achieving the delicate art of appearing busy while doing absolutely nothing. From New York’s Wall Street to Dhaka’s Gulshan Avenue, inquiry committees are universally cherished by management whenever swift justice must be thoroughly avoided or derailed.

2w ago

Highway to justice on a rickshaw

Someone I know once joked, “In Bangladesh, legal process is like a traffic signal -- it exists, but nobody follows it.” I know of a family that has been caught in a legal battle regarding land for decades. It is the kind of dispute that survives elections, grey hairs, and a few judges. They have won every round up to the top court, but the case? It is still pending outside the court. The legal system here is not just blind -- it is apparently waiting in traffic, hoping to dodge the maxim justice delayed is justice denied.

3w ago

Old roots, new realities

In our days, one landline served the entire moholla – and half the neighbourhood aunties answered your calls before your parents did. If you misbehaved, Amma’s flying chappal had GPS-guided accuracy – one silent glare, one clean hit. Eid was pure magic: a new panjabi, some Tk 10 Eidi, and rooftop laughter with cousins till midnight. Fast forward to today, where kids have personal phones, fear screen-time limits more than chappals, and won’t call it Eid unless there’s a new outfit, a viral reel, and at least 500 likes before lunch.

4w ago

Money talks, bribes walk

In a small Bangladeshi town, a politician sought advice from his lawyer friend after making a questionable move.

1m ago

Leadership: Dealing with idiots

Molla Nasiruddin took his donkey to the roof, but it refused to come down. Despite his efforts, the stubborn donkey resisted, kicking relentlessly.

2m ago

Ethically unethical marketing

Consumers worldwide notice that companies often use sneaky tricks to boost profits at the customers’ expense.

2m ago

Beat the trap of procrastination

How common is it in our daily life when a teacher or boss sets a deadline, and we all think, “Oh, I’ll start in ten days!” Suddenly, time shrinks, and it’s panic mode: emergency declared, day-and-night sprints commence, and the assignment emerges from chaos.

2m ago
February 7, 2025
February 7, 2025

Regulation without enforcement

Thinking about building your dream home in a prominent real estate compound? Brace yourself for a mountain of rules that, surprise, primarily benefit the authority.

January 24, 2025
January 24, 2025

MBA: Evolve or expire

During a job interview, Hassan, an MBA graduate, confidently highlighted his unique strengths as being his versatile skills and strategic thinking. However, when asked about specific skills like coding, data analytics, or AI, he conceded that he had not mastered any.

January 17, 2025
January 17, 2025

Future of jobs: Are we ready?

In Bangladesh, human resources (HR) often feel like driving a car without an engine—lots of noise, no progress. By 2030, 39 percent of core job skills will be obsolete, yet we’re stuck debating Excel training. Heads of HR, treated as attendance monitors, lack the tools to tackle this shift. Automation looms, poised to replace jobs faster than Dhaka traffic consumes patience. Without urgent reskilling, our demographic dividend risks becoming a liability. With machines learning faster than humans, the future won’t wait for us to catch up over endless cups of cha. It’s time to act before it’s too late.

December 29, 2024
December 29, 2024

Truth not to be told

A Moulana shared a viral story about his childhood friend, an eloquent speaker who became the Imam of a modern mosque in Dhaka.

December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024

Past glory, future worry

Years ago, Karim, a skilled fisherman, had a secret trick to catch fish. He would quietly tap the water three times, toss some crumbs, and wait. Like magic, the fish always came.

December 13, 2024
December 13, 2024

Faultless but flawed

One of my senior colleagues was a file-hoarding perfectionist, minutely checking every line before approving. His room looked like a paper factory explosion! He also believed everyone was out to stab him in the back, so he trusted no one. When the boss caught him delaying, he would pull a “Chatur from Three Idiots” -- “I didn’t do it!” -- triggering a blame game that turned the office into a daily soap opera of chaos and comedy! Often, I was on the receiving end of that blame game! Trying to be perfect in an imperfect world is like ironing your pyjamas -- hard work that nobody notices, and it’s a waste of time!

December 6, 2024
December 6, 2024

Accountants and accountability

South Asia relies heavily on professional accountants for governance, financial transparency, and regulatory compliance and yet the availability of these experts is scarce.

November 22, 2024
November 22, 2024

Transforming capital market: A call for decisive action

Despite over a decade of investing in Bangladesh’s stock market, I have suffered a 40 percent loss even with a strategy focused on blue-chip shares since 2012. This experience highlights the structural issues plaguing our capital market -- low liquidity, lack of depth, and eroding investor confidence. Addressing these challenges requires bold, immediate measures grounded in global best practices tailored to local realities.

November 15, 2024
November 15, 2024

Why employers struggle with Gen Z

In the viral Millennial Job Interview, young applicant Amy brings an unconventional view of professionalism that confuses her interviewer. Listing Snapchat and Instagram as her “tech skills”, she dismisses traditional tools like Excel, labelling Facebook “for old people.”

November 10, 2024
November 10, 2024

Rethinking accounting today

Every year on November 10, the world recognises International Accounting Day, celebrating the essential role accountants play in ensuring financial stability and growth across economies.