Weekly Bangladesh Policy Outlook: Analysis, Truth, Debate.
Mongla Port, situated in the Khulna Division of southwestern Bangladesh, is the country’s second-largest seaport after Chattogram. The city’s strategic location in proximity to the Bay of Bengal and its proximity to the Sundarbans make it an important gateway for international trade and regional connectivity. In recent years, China has emerged as a significant partner…
For years, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) has played a pivotal role in encouraging, facilitating and retaining investment in Bangladesh. While it deserves credit for initiatives such as its 180-Day Action Plan to unify a long-fragmented investment architecture and the digitalisation of one-stop services, its overall impact remains open to question, particularly in 2025….
Scroll through any social media feed in Bangladesh today, and the signs are unmistakable: fewer viral brand campaigns, dwindling engagement on sponsored posts, and a growing chorus of content creators questioning whether the influencer economy still pays. The glow that once surrounded digital influencing has faded considerably. But what exactly is driving this downturn? Is…
Bangladesh’s FY2026–27 national budget presents itself as a document of growing environmental awareness. Over recent years, allocations for climate-related expenditures have steadily increased across ministries, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has received a modest boost as well. At first glance, such trends suggest that climate issues are gaining prominence within fiscal…
Read More “Green Budget 2026: Signals Without Structural Transformation” »
More than five decades after 1971, Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to share one of South Asia’s most complex relationships. Historical grievances, political sensitivities and shifting geopolitical priorities have often shaped how the two countries engage with one another. Yet, in focusing almost exclusively on the past, both countries may be overlooking an important question: are…
Read More “Old Wounds, New Opportunities: Pakistan and Bangladesh at an Economic Crossroads” »
Rangpur, located in the northwestern corner of Bangladesh, is one of the country’s most historically overlooked regions. Despite its vast agricultural base, significant population, and strategic geographic position, it has long lagged Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet in terms of infrastructure, investment, and economic development. This disparity is not a reflection of the region’s potential but…
A Diplomatic Opening Dr Khalilur Rahman’s election as President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) gives Bangladesh an important diplomatic opening at a sensitive moment for the international system. The position is procedural in form, but influential in practice. It gives Dhaka a rare opportunity to shape conversations across the…
Read More “Bangladesh’s UN Moment Should Become a Governance Agenda” »
For years, successive governments in Bangladesh have showcased their commitment to preventing capital flight and money laundering, yet the results suggest otherwise. Bangladesh has strengthened anti-money laundering laws, joined international conventions, established the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, and pledged compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards. Despite these efforts, illicit financial outflows remain substantial,…
Read More “The Next $100 Billion Matters More Than the Last $100 Billion” »
A Silent Constraint on Growth Bangladesh’s development story is often told through its export success, demographic dividend, and steady poverty reduction. Yet beneath this progress lies a quieter, structural challenge, one that risks constraining the country’s future trajectory. Each year, more than two million young people enter the labour market, but only a fraction (roughly…
Read More “Rewiring Bangladesh’s Skills Economy: From Mismatch to Momentum” »
Dr. Naima Parvin Coventry University, UK Introduction: Rivers, Economics, and State Strategy In Bangladesh, rivers are far more than natural waterways, they are the very foundation of the country’s economic survival. Agriculture, which employs a large share of the population, depends directly on river systems for irrigation, sediment replenishment, and ecological balance. Consequently, any major…
Read More “From Ambition to Efficiency: Policy Lessons from Teesta and Padma Barrages” »
