Deferment or not, Bangladesh must prepare for LDC graduation

Our current image, built on resilience under difficult conditions, is admirable but insufficient for the next chapter.
4 March 2026, 00:11 AM

Have we grown desensitised to violence against women and children?

When perpetrators act with confidence, it is often because consequences appear uncertain, distant, or negotiable.
4 March 2026, 00:09 AM

From Suez to Hormuz: A stress test for Bangladesh’s export logistics

Bangladesh’s export success has never been just about competitive labour or entrepreneurial energy.
4 March 2026, 00:06 AM

Bangladesh Bank’s independence and the politics of transition

Many expected Dr Ahsan H Mansur to complete his full term, till August 2028.
3 March 2026, 00:00 AM

The real crisis at Bangladesh Bank: The mandate, not the résumé

The removal of Ahsan H Mansur as Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor has been an entirely avoidable drama.
3 March 2026, 00:00 AM

When coercion becomes a governance mechanism

If dominance is present, the border between “agreement” and “compliance” becomes difficult to distinguish
3 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Bangladesh’s statement on Iran: Measured words, high stakes

What the statement didn’t say is what really matters. It didn’t name the United States or Israel—the countries that launched the strikes without any provocation.
2 March 2026, 14:31 PM

Can Family Card reset our social protection system?

Social protection is not charity. It is an economic policy.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

BNP’s health agenda faces major execution challenges

For years, Bangladesh’s health sector has struggled with neglect.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Khamenei’s death and the uncertain future of the Islamic republic

Within hours of the Tehran strikes, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones at Israel as well as US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Appointing a new Bangladesh Bank governor has never been so chaotic

The selection process of the central bank governor in all developed countries is highly rigorous.
2 March 2026, 00:00 AM

Madhabdi rape: Will justice prevail or be forgotten again?

The Madhabdi case carries additional layers that make it more uncomfortable. There have been allegations of prior sexual violence, and of local arbitration.
1 March 2026, 01:10 AM

Imperial maps, Pak-Afghan war, and a way forward

Pakistan knows that invading Afghanistan would be a nightmare: the terrain is unforgiving, the Taliban are experienced guerrilla fighters, and any occupation would trigger wider regional reactions.
1 March 2026, 01:08 AM

What's in a word? The battle for cultural authority in Bangladesh

The crisis in Bangladesh today is not only political. It is civilisational, linguistic, and epistemic.
1 March 2026, 01:05 AM

Central bank shake-up: Why is BNP undermining its reformist legacy?

The removal of Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, widely credited with steadying an economy that was on the brink of potential collapse, has been described by many as nothing short of a blunder by the new government.
1 March 2026, 01:00 AM

Restoring public confidence in the judiciary is a test for the government

In any democracy, the line between legitimate prosecution and political litigation depends not only on statutory authority but on credibility.
28 February 2026, 01:16 AM

Leaders, beware of ‘Yes Men’

The truth is that leaders who surround themselves with people brave enough to say “this may be wrong” are far better equipped to govern than those shielded by constant applause.
28 February 2026, 01:13 AM

Who truly pays for the Ramadan price spike?

In countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia, governments routinely expand subsidised sales. Even in low-income countries across North Africa, Ramadan markets are often associated with discounts rather than mark-ups.
28 February 2026, 01:10 AM

Depoliticise institutions, not ideas

Not often do you hear a politician saying that “politicising education, research, and the practice of arts and literature is never a mark of a civilised society.”
28 February 2026, 01:06 AM

How Bangladesh can turn canal excavation into an environmental win

For thousands of years, the delta of Bengal has been defined by its intricate relationship with water. This was never a purely natural phenomenon;
27 February 2026, 00:27 AM