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Anu Muhammad

  • Economist

Economist and former professor, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University

Election Commission Overhaul: Aligning with Public Aspirations Through Reform
Election Commission Overhaul: Aligning with Public Aspirations Through Reform
Politics and Bureaucracy

Election Commission Overhaul: Aligning with Public Aspirations Through Reform

Recently, a significant and troubling event occurred in Bangladesh's history. The previous government systematically dismantled the electoral system to ensure its continued grip on power, effectively dismantling every state institution in the process. This destruction of democratic norms meant that citizens were deprived of their ability to express their opinions through elections, eradicating the fundamental process of government change based on public sentiment.

Interim government can initiate reforms, elected government to execute
Interim government can initiate reforms, elected government to execute
State and Politics

Interim government can initiate reforms, elected government to execute

One hundred days is not a long time to evaluate the activities of a regular government. For this special type of government, we must be even more flexible. However, after taking office, an evaluation can be made of what responsibilities this government could have fulfilled and what it has actually done in those 100 days. Such an evaluation is needed to make the current government’s role more effective. This government has more opportunities to accomplish things compared to a regular government, because it does not have any political affiliations. If it wishes, it can take various initiatives for the public interest. Since this interim government has come to power through a popular uprising, expectations from it are high. They do not have to worry about elections. If they take the people's aspirations into account, they can accomplish significant work.

Infrastructural development sans human resource management brings no help
Infrastructural development sans human resource management brings no help
Politics and Bureaucracy

Infrastructural development sans human resource management brings no help

The nationwide quota reform movement waged by the students which made the fall of the government is not the result of a sudden event. Rather, it can be said that this movement started from the accumulated anger of many days. The movement to reform the quota facility in government jobs has seen massive participation of students from public universities and colleges. At one stage students of private universities and colleges also participated in it.

Exploring Alternative Fuels: A Path to Economic Stability Without Price Hikes
Exploring Alternative Fuels A Path to Economic Stability Without Price Hikes.jpeg
Power and Energy

Exploring Alternative Fuels: A Path to Economic Stability Without Price Hikes

The current economic crisis and mounting stress in Bangladesh are deeply concerning. A significant portion of the population, particularly the lower middle class and impoverished communities, are experiencing stagnant income levels while facing a surge in expenditures. Balancing income with expenses has become increasingly challenging. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a noticeable escalation in the prices of essential goods. This trend has been exacerbated by fluctuations in international fuel prices. While global fuel prices have experienced a decrease, this reduction has not been reflected in the local market, leading to a disproportionate burden on consumers across various sectors.

Inflation causing economic bleeding in Bangladesh
Inflation causing economic bleeding in Bangladesh
Bank

Inflation causing economic bleeding in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's domestic economy has been experiencing high inflation for a long time. Countries around the world started experiencing high inflation after the Russia-Ukraine war began. However, most of the countries were able to control the high inflation and bring it down to a tolerable level, but Bangladesh could not make any visible progress in this regard. Inflation has been hovering around double digits for days. Although it has come down a little at times, but the rate is not very significant. The biggest problem we have here is that inflation is not being accounted for properly. As a result, it is not possible to estimate how dire the situation is. The role of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, which is the main source of all the country's data, is a government agency that plays a very important role in this regard. Because if the statistics are not correct then the real picture of the country will not be available and the plan based on those statistics can never be correct; But the reality is the organization cannot work properly as there is so much influence and direction from various quarters of the government in the formulation of statistics which cannot be ignored by the department. Various examples suggest that while compiling statistics, the officials concerned were directed that government developments should be emphasized, keeping the failures aside as much as possible.

What makes the WB, IMF work for capitalist states?
What makes the WB, IMF work for capitalist states?
MFS

What makes the WB, IMF work for capitalist states?

The Second World War took place in previous century, in 1939. World economy was about to collapse at that time. Around 1943-44, it became clear that the world war was coming to an end. It was also distinct that United States of America, Britain and Soviet Union led allied force was going to win the war. The fact was that Germany and Japan were to be defeated turn out to be obvious. How the world would run, especially what to do in the post-world war economy was the prime motive of establishing World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Aside from that, negotiations to divide the assets of the defeated parties soon began. A convention on the structure of global economic institutions was held in the United States during that period. John Meiners Kein, a renowned economist, attended that convention.