By David Loy Maybe every modern generation feels confronted by some crisis that will affect the fate of the world, but unless your head is buried in the sand (or some Buddhist equivalent) it’s impossible to be ignorant of the…
Category: Economy
‘Populist’ Macroeconomic Policy
By Vladimir Popov and Jomo Kwame Sundaram BERLIN and KUALA LUMPUR, Sep 22 2020 (IPS) – ‘Ethno-populism’ has emerged and spread in recent decades in response to the mixed consequences of neoliberal globalization. It appropriates nationalist rhetoric for narrow ethnic,…
Baby sold to pay clinic bill returned to mother in Gaibandha
At the intervention of Law Minister Anisul Huq, the Gaibandha district administration on Sunday tracked down the newborn who was sold by his parents to meet bills of a private clinic, at Sadullapur Upazila and sent him to mother Anjula…
Pandemic Threatens Human Capital Gains of Past Decade: WB
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic threatens hard-won gains in health and education over the past decade, especially in the poorest countries, a new World Bank Group analysis finds. Investments in human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that…
Leveraging youth for SDGs, UN announces 17 Young Leaders
18 September 2020 – The United Nations, on Friday, recognized 17 young advocates for sustainable development, who are leading efforts to combat some of the world’s most pressing challenges and inspiring the younger generation for a better future for all.
Tragic: Mother sells newborn to pay hospital bills
A woman, who gave birth at a clinic in Gaibandha, sold her baby for Tk 16,000 to foot her medical bills.
Bangladesh to pay Tk2.25 tln in debt servicing in 3 years
The government will pay an estimated Tk 2,256.7 billion as interest on loans in the next three fiscals including the current one.
Bangladesh’s debt burden set to get heavier
Dhaka, Sept 17 – Bangladesh is going to plunge into a ‘newer depth of debt’, both from internal and external sources, in the coming days as it is spending additional money to salvage the economy hit hard by the COVID-19…
COVID-19 devastating the Palestinian economy, says UNCTAD
Geneva, 9 Sep (Kanaga Raja) – The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the socioeconomic conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), which were already moving from bad to worse before the onset of the pandemic, the UN Conference on Trade and…
UK delivers £500m in projects for Commonwealth citizens
From providing antibiotics to more than nine million people to prevent blinding trachoma to building a Clean Ocean Alliance of 34 countries, more than 40 projects have been delivered during the United Kingdom’s leadership of the Commonwealth, a new report…
Over 1 mln Children Could Die for COVID-19 Economic Crisis
By Stella Paul IPS senior correspondent Stella Paul interviews Nobel Laureate KAILASH SATYARTHI on the eve of Fair Share for Children Summit, a global virtual conference in which Nobel Laureates and world leaders are calling for the world’s most marginalised…
World risks losing generation of children: Nobel Laureates
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, Sep 7 2020 (IPS) – The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of millions of people worldwide, accounted for over 869,000 deaths, destabilised the global economy and triggered a marked rise in poverty and hunger…
40 Rohingya leaders in Bhasan Char to see facilities created
Rohingya leaders from Cox’s Bazar camps visited Bhasan Char on Saturday to see facilities over there as the government has planned to relocate some 1 lakh Rohingyas to the island, aiming to ease the pressure on Cox’s Bazar camps.
Forex reserves hit record high over $39 billion
DHAKA, Sept 1, 2020 (BSS) – The country’s foreign exchange reserves has touched a new record of US$39.04 billion amid coronavirus crisis.
IAEA lauds Bangladesh’s sustained progress
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has sought strong political support from Bangladesh in its endeavours to implement its mandates.
Qatar abolishes long-criticized kafala employment system
Dubai, Aug 31 – Qatar, an energy-rich nation, has effectively revoked the long-criticized kafala employment system, said the International Labor Organization.
Tk 32.80 bn being spent to protect Bangladesh coastal areas
The government is constructing 139 polders in the coastal belt to protect the areas from tidal surges and floods, State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque said Saturday.
BB to investigate e-commerce platform of Evaly
Bangladesh Bank will investigate the financial transactions and other e-commerce activities of e-commerce platform Evaly.
Bangladesh invites more Swiss investment in SEZs
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has invited Swiss investors to set up manufacturing factories in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and invest more in Bangladesh.
Padma Bridge project gets time extension up to 2022
Dhaka, Aug 26 – The implementation tenure of Parma Bridge project, a mega project of the country, has been extended up to 2022 as its works suffered a setback due to COVID-19 pandemic and floods.
‘No questions can be raised over legalising black money’
Dhaka, Aug 25 – National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem has said that no organisation can raise questions over legalisation of untaxed money, popularly known as black money, and its subsequent investment availing amnesty in…
Highway through haor, a feat unwelcome for wetland ecosystem
For a road that opened to the public during a pandemic, the Itna-Mithamoin-Astagram highway has already made a huge impression on people, in more ways than one. For fishes and other aquatic life it’s a barrier that has restricted their…
Stimulating Brazil’s Bioeconomy
by Pedro Frizo SÃO PAULO – In the midst of the growing climate crisis, the world can no longer rely solely on old models of economic development. In this context, the concept of a bioeconomy – activities that produce relatively…
Dhaka to focus on agriculture to speed up economic recovery
Bangladesh is going to focus on agriculture as one of its prioritised sectors under a 2020-2023 mid-term plan in an effort to bring the Covid-hit national economy back on track fast.
Maldives extends ban on new Bangladeshi labour recruits
Economic Development Ministry of Maldives extended a ban on entry of new Bangladeshi labourers to Maldives for a period of one year, as the restriction’s September 18 deadline draws closer.
I Came to Qatar to Pursue My Dreams, But it’s a Nightmare
By A Kenyan Migrant Worker DOHA, Aug 19 2020 (IPS) – Like thousands of migrant workers from Africa and Asia, I am finally in the land of my dreams, Qatar. I knew working here would be tough, but I thought…
The Need for Debt-for-Climate Swaps
by Kevin P. Gallagher,Stephany Griffith-Jones,Jörg Haas,Shamshad Akhtar,Ulrich Volz ISLAMABAD – A global debt crisis is looming. Even before COVID-19 swept the world, the International Monetary Fund had issued a warning about developing countries’ public debt burdens, noting that half of…
ADB nods $50m loan for Bangladesh
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million loan to fund public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.
UN and partners launch $565 million appeal for Lebanon
14 August 2020 – The UN and aid partners are seeking $565 million to address the overwhelming needs in Lebanon following the deadly explosions that flattened large areas of the capital, Beirut, nearly two weeks ago.
Debt Hawks Detract from Urgently Needed Fiscal Recovery Efforts
By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 2020 (IPS) – Developing country debt has continued to grow rapidly since the 2008-2009 global financial crisis (GFC). Warnings against debt have been reiterated by familiar prophets…