Imagine paying interest to save money. A bizarre idea that was once theoretical curiosity is now a stark reality in several economies of the developed world...

In northern rural Bangladesh, the autumn lean season is the most difficult time of year, especially in Rangpur, where close to half of the 15.8 million residents live below the poverty line.

This is the story of my father who was a civil servant assigned as the treasury officer of Dhaka in 1971.

Guidelines on Internal Control & Compliance for Banks were issued by the central bank on March 8, 2016, which recommended the commercial banks to take insurance as a risk mitigation measure. Such insurances are not over-the-counter products, and must be customised as per each bank's unique exposures.

Today, intra-regional trade accounts for just 5 percent of South Asia's total trade, compared to 25 percent for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This vast untapped potential presents the region with an opportunity for growth that does not rely on the strength of the world economy.

In an email interview, Dr Geof Wood shares with Amitava Kar of The Daily Star why poverty and inequality persist despite all the fuss. Emeritus Professor of International Development at the University of Bath, Dr Wood is an internationally renowned development anthropologist and author of several books and numerous journal articles, with a regional focus on South Asia. On March 9, he presented a seminar titled “The Security of Agency: Towards a Sociology of Poverty” at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS). Here is a condensed version of the interview.

Mobilising more resources for government could help improve many public services and goods, including the massive infrastructure needs of the country. But is mobilising more government resources the best way to help Bangladesh?

Without detracting from the undeniable fact that as the governor of the BB, the buck stopped with him, it may be fairly said that the 'graceful' exit of Professor Rahman has probably raised more questions than it has resolved.

The BB Governor has done the only moral thing to do, resign. But that is only one aspect of the issue. The matter has generated several questions and people need credible answers to those.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15, global sovereign rating agencies Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch assigned Bangladesh a 'stable' sovereign credit outlook.

The simple answer to the question, “What do you do”, could really make a lot of difference.

Big changes are underway in the United States, as the country gears up to elect a new president, one-third of the Senate, and the entire House of Representatives this November. The outcome will have profound consequences for US economic policy, and thus for the global economy.

Is the world economy coming to a catastrophic, grinding crash? Would we see a global meltdown with GDP in a tailspin...

BIMSTEC is no longer a member-driven organisation, and in this context, the Secretariat becomes vital in driving the organisation.

Economic growth has meant many countries of this region have substantial capacity to direct public expenditures for forest restoration should it be made a national priority.

Once again, advocates of free mobility for destabilising short-term capital flows are being proven wrong. Many emerging markets recognised the dangers and tried to reduce capital inflows.

While lower fuel cost may keep the cost of driving low and the opportunity cost of conservation high, the setback is predicted to be temporary.

The difference also came through the indomitable character of its people. Given the lowest investment in research, Bangladeshis can make the highest amount of innovations as seen in agriculture and services.

If monetary policy autonomy is a priority, capital account liberalisation should come after a country’s transition to a flexible exchange rate – not before it.

The latest monetary policy, which the central bank governor had announced recently, has passed through the market with a fair amount of approval...