Economics
Silent role of MFS to keep the economy going
With the advancement of the pandemic, the citizens of Bangladesh are leaning more and more towards adopting Mobile Financial Service (MFS) as their method of money transfer, buying products and services, buying mobile balance and making bill payments.
Navigating the socioeconomic perils of Covid-19 in Bangladesh
Despite the depressing state of major indicators such as negative export-import growth; large revenue deficit; falling private sector investment; rising non-performing loans recorded in the last quarter of 2019
Stimulus for Bangladesh’s export-oriented enterprises
On March 25, 2020, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced, in her address to the nation, that the government would provide an incentive package of Taka 5,000 crore for export-oriented industries.
Financial mobility in an immobile world
The recent outbreak of Covid-19 is an unprecedented global issue, leading many to contemplate difficult questions that are plaguing all of humanity.
COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of our economies
The human dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic reach far beyond the critical health response. All aspects of our future will be affected—economic, social and developmental. Our response must be urgent, coordinated and on a global scale, and should immediately deliver help to those most in need.
Economic threats in the time of corona
What will the impact of Covid-19 be on the Bangladesh economy? Overall, it seems inevitable that the GDP gains that were expected to be realised in the current fiscal year are likely to be wiped out.
COVID-19 and Bangladesh’s macroeconomic challenges
The world economy is now on lockdown because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Governments and their central banks around the world are wasting no time in dealing with the health and economic implications of this crisis.
Implementing SDG 6: Watering the seeds of development
Nothing is more useful than water. Ironically, hardly anything can be obtained in exchange for water.
An opportune moment for an infrastructure blitz
Given that Bangladesh has the lowest debt-GDP ratio in the region (29 percent), when compared to Sri Lanka (73 percent), Pakistan (67 percent) and India (65 percent), we can easily afford investing another $10 to 20 billion in our hugely inadequate infrastructure.
Building on what has worked
By barring MNOs from starting their own MFS, BB effectively promoted interoperability. This encouraged 25 million subscribers to sign up in four short years. bKash, for example, had signed up three times as many customers (19 million) in four years as EasyPaisa operating in Pakistan for about seven years.
Can China's economic woes derail world recovery?
In these times of interconnected economies, China's recent economic troubles seem to be the last straw that broke the camel's back. First of all, less growth in China spells trouble for its trading partners. But there is another worrisome development for ROW. China, after years of goading from IMF and US economists, is undertaking a policy shift in an attempt to change its economic growth paradigm.
The land of the rising sun rises again?
In a move that saw Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's nationalist government facing the stiffest resistance from pacifists and opposition parliamentarians alike, the Japanese Diet (Parliament) last week voted into law a bill that will allow Japan to deploy its military in combat roles beyond its territorial boundaries for the first time in seven decades.
The power of an information society
When the 'Digital India' initiative of the Indian Prime Minister receives the backing of none other than the Google CEO Sundar Pichai, one can't help but look at it with admiration.
Vibrant Bangladesh - A branding that fits
Whenever I used to pass through John F Kennedy Airport, the massive advertisement of 'Incredible India' would draw my attention.
Making of manpower in a market economy
The reason many people do not like a market economy lies in the acid test of harsh competition. To them, the market economy is a story of losing jobs by being made redundant in the workplace.
New pay scale, New Hopes
After another long wait,the eighth pay scale for government officials and employees has finally been approved.
Stimulating the capital market
We need to develop stricter rules and punish the wrongdoers to protect our shareholders, thereby developing a healthy capital market.
Wither BIMSTEC FTA
Many laypersons may not be aware that what is typically touted as a 'FTA' has often much less to do with free trade and more to do with preferential trade.