Beyond Incrementalism: Rethinking Economic Reform in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is at the crossroads where economic reform is no longer an option, but a requirement. There have been several structural flaws in key sectors, i.e. taxation, the financial sector, management of public spending, trade policy, and investment rules. These...
A Paradigm Shift in Aid: What Does it Mean for the Global South?
For decades, the promise of global development was rooted in a simple idea: the world, though unequal, could move forward together. Richer countries would support poorer ones through aid, trade, and investment, not out of charity, but out of shared interest and...
Why ESG Standards Matter More Than Ever for Bangladesh?
The global investment landscape is not what it used to be. These days, investors are looking beyond profits - they want to know where their money is going and what kind of impact it is having. Is it helping clean the air, making workplaces safer, and encouraging fair...
Bangladesh: A Looming Debt Trap?
Bangladesh's external debt doubled since 2017 to stand at approximately $100 billion in 2024. This accelerated growth indicates a significant turn in the country's economic direction. Most of this borrowing has gone towards financing large-scale infrastructure...
From Promises to Practice: Bangladesh’s Health Reform Agenda Must Move Beyond Rhetoric
The Government of Bangladesh unveiled its long-awaited Health Reform Commission (HRC) Report—an ambitious document envisioned for laying the foundation for a more equitable, efficient, and accountable health system. With over 70 percent of out-of-pocket health...
An Appraisal of the Women Reform Commission Report
Bangladesh presents a complex picture regarding gender equality, with notable achievements alongside persistent challenges. There are several laws and policies for women empowerment, including constitutional provisions. To progress this women empowerment agenda in the...
Empowering Bangladesh’s Private Sector: Three Post-LDC Strategies
The domestic private sector is the pillar of Bangladesh's economic growth, job generation, and export competitiveness. While the country is graduating from the LDC status in 2026 and targets to be an upper-middle-income country in the future, the development of...
A Bird’s Eye View of The Task Force Committee
On August 5, 2024, Bangladesh experienced a seismic political shift. Massive student-led protests, known as the July Revolution, culminated in the resignation and exile of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The unrest was fuelled by widespread allegations of corruption,...
Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025: Big Promises Amid Fragile Realities
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) jointly organized the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, held from April 7–10 in Dhaka. In an unstable political climate, the summit marked a significant effort by...
Navigating Global Trade Turbulence: Bangladesh’s Strategic Pathway
There are several emerging trends in international trade and investment. First, there are ongoing trends of fragmentation of trade and reorganization of geopolitics. The growing US-China, US-Canada, and US-Mexico trade war is compelling trade diversification and...
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