Electricity price hikes: Why is BNP reverting to failed power policies?

The BNP, in its election manifesto, pledged to build an affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable power and energy system.
5 June 2026

IPEMIS and the future of primary education

Impressive progress has been made in Bangladesh’s primary education system over the past decades, bringing millions of children into classrooms and advancing national commitment to the UN’s SDG 4 of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
4 June 2026

Deadly spillovers from Myanmar's civil war can no longer be ignored

On May 24, three Bangladeshis were killed in landmine explosions near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari.
4 June 2026

By ‘justifying’ border killings, has the home minister conceded the Indian narrative?

On June 2, with a border conference six days away, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed spoke to reporters at the Secretariat and dismantled decades of Bangladeshi advocacy in a single sweep.
4 June 2026

The budget must rebuild social protection for a changing economy

Bangladesh has reached a point where social protection can no longer be treated as a set of small compensatory programmes for the poor.
4 June 2026

What the Mirpur tragedy reveals about elderly care in Bangladesh

An older person's well-being depends not only on physical health but also on whether they remain connected to meaningful relationships with their family and community
3 June 2026

Violence is not power, and our leaders should stop confusing the two

To paraphrase the famous science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, the source of true power for a nation is the ability to get your way without having to resort to violence.
3 June 2026

State minister’s DU remarks and the bigger crisis in higher education

The recent remarks by State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj comparing Dhaka University to a coaching centre triggered predictable outrage.
3 June 2026

An ode to the humble bicycle

On this World Bicycle Day, it is worth reflecting on the incredible technology that is the bicycle. I love walking, but I cannot help but admire the efficiency of the humble bicycle.
3 June 2026

As the budget nears, a word of caution on money printing

Money-printing, or monetary expansion, is often described in a way that makes it sound as if the government runs a printing press.
3 June 2026

Securing the future for our women athletes

The government’s nationwide “Notun Kuri Sports” initiative is a commendable effort to provide our children with a healthy platform to develop their talents.
2 June 2026

Bangladesh wants fair business, not charity

For two decades, I have watched global fashion brands speak the language of responsible business conduct—human rights due diligence, living wages, supplier partnerships, climate transition, social compliance, transparency, and shared responsibility.
2 June 2026

Beyond one cancelled film screening

On Saturday, a group of film enthusiasts in Brahmanbaria planned to do something entirely ordinary: watch a film together, discuss it, and go home.
2 June 2026

What the FY2027 budget must prioritise

The finance minister is set to present his government’s first national budget on June 11. Expectations are high—and for several reasons.
2 June 2026

The corporate sector in Bangladesh needs a cultural reset

Over the last three decades, Bangladesh’s private sector has become one of the strongest pillars of the national economy.
1 June 2026

Behavioural forensics: The missing science in Bangladesh's criminal justice system

In Bangladesh, the discourse on controlling heinous crimes, particularly sexual violence and serial offences, routinely centres on legislative severity.
1 June 2026

Why millions in training funds haven't solved unemployment in Bangladesh

That schools do not prepare our young people well for the world of work is a frequent refrain.
1 June 2026

100 days of BNP government: Not a verdict, but a possibility

The rule of any government is difficult to judge within 100 days, but it is enough time to observe and learn about the instincts of the new leadership.
1 June 2026

Qurbani, hajj, and the economy Bangladesh is failing to manage

Bangladesh produces a significant share of the world’s raw leather, yet captures only a small fraction of the global leather goods trade.
26 May 2026

Could this budget set the groundwork for a trillion-dollar economy?

Bangladesh is entering this budget cycle under significant pressure.
26 May 2026