Wasim Bin Habib

Bangladesh’s banking sector reforms: ADB to provide $1b in budget support

The Asian Development Bank plans to provide $1 billion in budget support to advance Bangladesh’s banking sector reforms, contingent on 25 conditions including the creation of a financial stability fund for banks facing capital shortfalls.

2d ago

IMF conditions: Govt pledges to track graft in tax admin

The government has pledged a series of sweeping reforms to meet International Monetary Fund conditions for the next instalment of its $5.5 billion loan, including a public survey to measure corruption in tax administration and a phased reduction of subsidies on electricity, fertiliser, remittances and exports.

1w ago

$520b economy by next fiscal year

Bangladesh’s gross domestic product is projected to surpass the $500 billion mark for the first time in the upcoming fiscal year contingent upon exchange rate stability.

1m ago

How much longer must south Dhaka suffer?

Standoff over Ishraque Hossain’s mayoral post halts civic services in half of Dhaka

1m ago

National budget FY25-26: Govt to recast social safety net schemes

The interim government is likely to introduce a transparent system for social safety net schemes in the upcoming budget, increasing the number of beneficiaries by around 10 lakh while slashing one-third of the existing programmes.

1m ago

The Kajoli model learning with laughter, growing with joy

“Who will pick up the duck’s photo?” The moment Rafia Sonamoni posed the question to a group of 26 children, four eager hands shot up, accompanied by excited shouts of, “I will!”

1m ago

Aid allocation to be trimmed in next budget

The plan comes as $42.85b foreign funds remained unused at start of current FY

2m ago

Reform proposals: BNP opposes two-term cap on prime minister

The BNP submitted its feedback yesterday. So far, 15 other parties have submitted theirs.

3m ago
July 30, 2021
July 30, 2021

Implementation of Mass Vaccination Plan: Govt needs $3.7b in next 2 years

Bangladesh will need an estimated $3.7 billion to inoculate 80 percent of the population against Covid in one and a half to two years and achieve herd immunity.

July 16, 2021
July 16, 2021

Shortened versions of SSC, HSC exams likely in Nov, Dec

The SSC examinations will be held in November and the HSC tests in December if the Covid situation improves, the government announced yesterday allaying to some extent worries of around 36 lakh students as well as their guardians.

July 10, 2021
July 10, 2021

‘Get us out of here. Please help!’

“Get us out of here. Please help!” These were the last words Liton heard from his sister-in-law Jahanara Begum when he called her on Thursday evening.

July 1, 2021
July 1, 2021

Faith in mankind reaffirmed

“Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that,” said iconic American civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.

July 1, 2021
July 1, 2021

Darkness Befalls: Road 79

With the evening sun going down and the sky turning a dusty pink, a quietness descended at the Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1, 2016, towards the end of Ramadan that year.

June 17, 2021
June 17, 2021

Social Safety Net Spending: Big slice goes to non-poor

In circuses, whenever artists perform the tightrope walking stunt, underneath them are wide nets to prevent them from falling to the ground and avoiding potentially life-threatening injuries -- lest they lose their balance on the thin rope and falls over.

June 4, 2021
June 4, 2021

New safety net funds for poor

The government has created two separate funds worth a combined Tk 12,300 crore under its massive social safety net programmes in the next fiscal year for targeted populations and low-paid informal sector workers.

June 1, 2021
June 1, 2021

Social safety net to widen

The allotment for other social protection programmes may go up to Tk 65,000 crore, up 41.47 percent year on year.

May 12, 2021
May 12, 2021

Left out in their hour of need

The government could not spend two-thirds of its around Tk 25,000 crore cash-food support packages for the poor and vulnerable, frontline health workers and low-income farmers in the last year after its announcement.

May 11, 2021
May 11, 2021

Pandemic to be budget mainstay

Keeping in mind the possible impacts of the second Covid-19 wave, the government is going to attach top priority to vaccination, economic recovery, and life and livelihood of the poor in the upcoming national budget.