The Oniket Bulletin - Page 28 of 45 - Bangladesh Policy Outlook - A Weekly Publication of the Oniket Research Group CIC

The Imperative of Madrasa Education Reform in Bangladesh

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor No Comments

Madrasa education remains a vital component of Bangladesh’s education system. Hundreds of thousands of students, particularly from lower income and lower middle-income families, receive their education through Alia and Qawmi madrasas. For decades, these institutions have played an important role in promoting religious education, nurturing moral values, and providing educational opportunities to communities that might…

Education

The Bitter Reality of a Sweet Season: Bangladesh’s Golden Harvest vs. Global Absence

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor No Comments

Modhu Mash, the month of honey has arrived, and as the scorching heat of June and July settle over the delta, the first thing that comes to our mind is the irresistible aroma of ripe mangoes. It is a sensory celebration deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Bangladesh. While our local markets overflow with…

Agriculture

Eye Care for Bangladesh’s Elderly Citizens: Crisis, Inequality and the Need for Reform

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor 1 Comment

As life expectancy continues to rise in Bangladesh, the country’s elderly population is growing rapidly. Alongside age related illnesses and health complications, the risk of vision loss and eye disease is also increasing. Yet Bangladesh’s healthcare system remains insufficiently prepared to meet the eye care needs of older citizens. As a result, hundreds of thousands…

Health

Dreaming Bigger Than the Hardware: The Future of AI Research in Bangladesh

June 18, 2026June 22, 2026 editor No Comments

My first machines could barely hold the worlds I asked of them. Hercules on a wheezing family PC. Road Rash. DX-Ball 2. Space Impact on a Nokia with a screen smaller than a matchbox. Nobody told us those were limitations; we played like they were portals. We have always been people who dream bigger than…

Science, Technology & Innovation

Bangladesh’s UN Moment Should Become a Governance Agenda

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor No Comments

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…

Economy & Policy Governance

Social Norms, Rural Women and Human Rights

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor No Comments

In rural Bangladesh, prevailing social norms and traditional value systems have a profound impact on the lives, rights, and opportunities of women. In many cases, these social rules restrict women’s personal freedom, economic empowerment, and participation in public life, often conflicting with the fundamental principles of human rights. At the same time, such discriminatory social…

Humanity, Social Welfare, Human Rights & Happiness

The Next $100 Billion Matters More Than the Last $100 Billion

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor 1 Comment

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,…

Economy & Policy Governance

The Digital Powder Keg: Misinformation and the Fragility of Public Order in Bangladesh

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor No Comments

Bangladesh is currently facing a critical misinformation crisis that threatens the core of its social stability. Data from fact-checking organizations reveals a worrying trend: in 2025 alone, there was a 30 percent spike in false or misleading content compared to the previous year. This digital epidemic is highly targeted and dangerous. Nearly two out of…

Media, Publishing & Digital Dissemination

The Fabric of Inequality: Dhaka’s Glittering Boutiques and the Invisible Artisans of Rural Bangladesh

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor No Comments

Walk through the elite commercial avenues of Gulshan, Banani, or Dhanmondi, and you are immediately captured by a vibrant celebration of heritage. Glittering storefronts display the pinnacle of Bangladeshi craftsmanship: ethereal Jamdani sarees, deeply textured Nakshi Kantha quilts, and hand-embroidered garments that tell centuries-old stories in every stitch. This urban boutique industry has evolved from…

Politics, Democracy & Citizen Rights

The US-China Strategic Contest and Bangladesh Part I: Navigating Opportunity in an Age of Managed Competition

June 18, 2026June 18, 2026 editor 1 Comment

The economic relationship between the United States and China has entered a more complex phase. It can no longer be understood simply as a conventional tariff dispute. Tariffs remain important, but the contest now extends to technology, industrial capacity, critical minerals, investment screening, digital systems and the security of global supply chains. US goods trade…

Trade, Commerce & Industry