Dhaka, Aug 13 – Bangladesh might be one of only two ASEAN and South Asian economies to register positive growth in 2020 when the world is almost certainly bound to a devastating recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Category: Economy
Sirajganj Economic Zone to create 5 lakh job opportunities
Sirajganj, Aug 13: The Sirajganj Economic Zone (EZ) Limited is expected to generate working scopes for around five lakh people which will remove unemployment problems in the region.
Greening Sovereign-Debt Restructuring
By Simon Zadek BEIJING – Many developing countries have so far avoided the high COVID-19 infection and mortality rates that are being experienced elsewhere. While that may be good news, at least in the short term, the bad news is…
COVID-19 Impact on International Migration, Remittances in Asia
This brief assesses the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on migrant workers, how reduced remittances will affect households and economies in Asia and the Pacific, and what policy makers can do to soften the blow.
70pc Bangladeshi returnee migrants struggling to find jobs
Nearly 70 percent of surveyed migrants who returned to Bangladesh between February and June remained unemployed, according to a study covering 12 districts.
199 rural bridges construction nears completion in M’singh
Mymensingh, Aug 10 : Construction of 199 rulal bridges in all 13 upazilas of the district is nearing completion during the 2018-2019 financial year aimed at promoting the road communication system in rural areas.
‘Delta Fund’ eyed to make Bangladesh climate resilient
The government has a plan to form a special fund, ‘Bangladesh Delta Fund’, for implementing its long-term integrated master plan, ‘Delta Plan 2100’, to harness the huge potentials of Bangladesh through water resource management, ensuring food and water security and…
COVID-19: Bangladesh to receive 150mn euro from France
France will provide a concessional loan of 150 million euro to support Bangladesh with its cash transfer programmes and COVID-19 responsiveness.
ADB’s COVID-19 response reaches $9.3b in last six months
Dhaka, Aug 4: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $9.3 billion in financial resources in the last six months since early February when ADB started its initial response to support its developing member countries and the private sector to address…
Karnaphuli Tunnel Project makes “breakthrough” amid Covid-19
Karnaphuli Tunnel Project has achieved a “breakthrough” with the completion of the left line despite the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
A Marshall Plan for Planetary Health
by Tolullah Oni CAMBRIDGE – The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the significant flaws in our urban infrastructure, and highlighted our lack of attention to how human health, natural systems, and the built environment interact to determine planetary health.…
Emerging Economies Should Build Back Greener
by Luis Alberto Moreno,Henry M. Paulson, Jr. WASHINGTON, DC – While lockdowns have slowed the spread of the coronavirus in many countries, their economic impact has been devastating. At the same time, with fewer commuters, factories at a standstill, and…
WB okays $202 mn credit for food storage in BD
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved $202 million in additional financing for the Modern Food Storage Facilities Project to increase the storage capacity of Bangladesh’s national strategic grain reserves by 535,500 tons for 4.5 million households.
Only govts can prevent covid-19 recession turning depression
By Jomo Kwame SundaramKUALA LUMPUR, Jul 30 2020 (IPS) – Covid-19 threatens economic life the world over. The most urgent and important need is for governments, businesses and families to survive. Governments must revive economies and livelihoods to prevent Covid-19…
COVID-19: Arab region’s economy to shrink by 5.7%
Geneva, 29 Jul (Kanaga Raja) – The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the Arab region are likely to be deep and long-lasting, with the economies in this region expected to contract by 5.7 percent, according to a United Nations…
Activation during the pandemic downturn
by Silvia Girardi, Alessio Fusco and Valeria Pulignano on 29th July 2020 @sigiraviaMandatory activation conditions for social-assistance recipients should be suspended during the pandemic.Whether activation policies can foster labour-market integration and, at the same time, protect individuals from poverty is…
‘It’s (Still) the Economy, Stupid!’
Alan Stoga“In all of the West, we run into a divided society. Those who are smart enough to play on the stock market are fine; they can live. Those who are educated to play in the digital economy are also…
Covid-19 forces change of approach to 8th Five Year Plan
Dhaka, July 24 – Amid the fast-changing scenario in Bangladesh economy due to COVID-19 crisis, the government is going to change the main macroeconomic structure of the 8th Five Year Plan to protect people.
US Ambassador Miller visits Kalyanpur slum
Dhaka, July 24 – US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller on Thursday visited and interacted with families in Kalyanpur slum receiving food assistance through a new US government programme funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
BD economy to bounce back at year end, hopes Minister
Commerce minister Tipu Munshi on Thursday hoped that the economy of the country will bounce back at the end of the year as some export products see good demand in the global market amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
100mn people may enter extreme poverty globally in 2020: UN
UN deputy chief Amina Mohammed has said as many as 100 million people are expected to be pushed back into extreme poverty in 2020, the first rise in global poverty since 1998.
PM unhappy at delay in project implementation
Dhaka, July 21 – Expressing dissatisfaction at delay in implementation of development projects, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked different departments concerned to strengthen coordination among them to avert delay in project activities.
Minimum wage: A success story with scope for improvement
by Peter Bofinger on 20th July 2020 @PeterBofinger Peter Bofinger argues that regionally-differentiated minimum wages should be considered for the post-coronavirus period. In Germany, the introduction of the statutory minimum wage in January 2015 was viewed extremely sceptically by many…
‘New social contract, global deal must to tackle inequality’
Xinhua/UNB, July 19 – Noting that Covid-19 is a human tragedy, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for a New Social Contract and a New Global Deal to address inequality across the world.
Transparency in financial aid disbursement among poor urged
Dhaka, July 18 – Speakers at a virtual dialogue on Saturday urged the government to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of financial aid among poor people of the country during the coronavirus pandemic. They also said the income…
Latin America & Caribbean to suffer worst recession in a century
Geneva, 15 Jul (Kanaga Raja) – The COVID-19 pandemic will result in the worst recession in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region in a century, causing a 9.1% contraction in regional GDP in 2020. This is one of…
World off track to meet 2030 Agenda, UN deputy chief warns
16 July 2020 – The world was off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, even before the COVID-19 crisis erupted, but can get back on course by increasing investment in public services, showing solidarity on financing,…
‘Transparent public finances must for resilient economy’
Dhaka, July 11 – Experts at a webinar on Saturday said Chartered Accountants (CAs) can play a vital role in economic recovery by taking particular care in their conduct and judgments as fair information, accountability, and transparent public finance are…
Dhaka seeks global support to Post Covid-19 recovery plan
Dhaka, July 09 – Bangladesh has urged the development partners, as well as multilateral donors and the private sector to come forward to support national efforts for post-COVID recovery and climate action, especially of the most vulnerable countries.
For a law of ‘algorithmic justice at work’
by José Varela on 9th July 2020 Workers must be protected from adverse decisions where responsibility is displaced to apparently anonymous algorithms.