Getting the economy back on track

Seven decades ago, one of South Asia’s greatest fiction writers, Saadat Hasan Manto, published a short story set in a village in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The plot revolved around rumours of an Indian plan to “shut down” water to Pakistan by closing off rivers that irrigated the province’s crops.

A humanitarian corridor is designated as a pathway to the persecuted and affected community in conflict zones during humanitarian crises. It is generally used to transport aid and other necessary support to a blocked region.

The Gaza war entering its second year compels the European Union (EU) to face its contradictory relationship with Israel amid increasing evidence of human rights abuses. The question now is whether the EU can afford not to act.

The decades-long military involvement of the United States in the Middle East expanded once again this week after its warplanes bombed at least three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The United States struck three key nuclear sites in Iran early on Sunday, injecting itself into Israel’s war with Iran in a sophisticated mission and prompting fears of military escalation in the Middle East amid Israel’s brutal onslaught of Gaza.

U.S. forces have attacked three Iranian nuclear and military sites, further upping the stakes in the Israel-Iran war.

Israel`s strikes on Iran, and Iran`s response, initially caused an shudder on global financial markets.

A survey conducted on 3,839 students from 16 countries by the Digital Education Council (2024) found that 66% turned to ChatGPT for their studies. This statistic shows that ChatGPT has quickly become an integral part of study for students worldwide, with a majority using it for brainstorming, research, and writing assistance features. 

The fighting has stopped after four tense days between India and Pakistan, but the impact is still unfolding. In both government offices and newsrooms, people are trying to make sense of what happened.

Despite persistent efforts, bilateral trade does not always take place smoothly as barriers to trade increase or emerge in new forms for various reasons. Geo-political tension casts a shadow on trade relations disrupting trade. The bilateral dispute also makes things bad, leading to restrictions on trade. The cost of trade disruption or restriction is usually high for both partners.

After years of effort and some frustrating delays, Amazon’s dream of delivering high-speed internet to some of the remotest places on Earth quite literally got off the ground last month.

We live in an era where digital connectivity has a direct bearing on economic and even social progress. Bangladesh is no exception. The Chief Advisor’s recent call to relevant bodies to work together in bolstering the use of telecommunications and information technology services in every sector is timely.

No other region has been hit as hard as Asia by American President Donald Trump`s tariff policies targeting countries having a trade surplus with the US. The overall outlook of Asia does not seem bright after the trade war triggered by what Trump termed "reciprocal tariffs". Though paused for 90 days, a baseline 10% remains in force while China faces up to 145% duties prompting it to impose retaliatory steps.

Donald Trump spent his first 100 days back in the Oval Office driving an economy that the world envied to the brink of crisis, risking America’s reputation as a financial safe haven and fostering fear among voters who’ve lost confidence in his leadership.

Since the independence of Bangladesh, India has been regarded as a trusted neighbor. Over the years, the bilateral relationship has been shaped not only by political realities but also by evolving multilateral economic engagements. However, economic relations between the two countries have often come under strain following political transitions in Bangladesh.

Over the past two decades, Bangladesh has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, driven by a vibrant manufacturing sector, a growing middle class, and a steady rise in export earnings. As the country prepares for its transition from least developed country (LDC), attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) has become increasingly vital to sustaining this momentum.