Economics
Is dominance of US dollar in global economy about to decline?
Recently, the BRICS summit was held in Kazan, Russia. Initially, BRICS was formed by four countries: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Later, South Africa joined, giving it its current name, BRICS. Last year, five more countries were admitted, raising the membership to ten, although the group retained its original name. In this recent summit in Kazan, in addition to the 10 full BRICS members, 25 countries joined as observers, many of which may soon gain full membership. BRICS is fundamentally an economic cooperation bloc, whose member states represent 57% of the world's population and account for 47% of global GDP.
Legal reforms are essential to offset banking sector catastrophes
The private research institution, the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), has highlighted the dire situation of the banking sector in its latest research report. According to the report, over the past 15 years, widespread embezzlement has taken place in the country's banking sector, pushing it into a state of severe risk. Of the 60 banks operating in the country, at least 29 are struggling to function properly for various reasons. Among them, at least 10 banks are on the verge of bankruptcy. What was once a symbol of public trust, the banking sector, has now become a breeding ground for corruption.
Political shifts occur, but market syndicates persist
It has been less than two and a half months since the interim government took charge, making it premature to conduct an in-depth analysis of its successes or failures. This government assumed responsibility amid complex challenges in both the political and economic realms. Its primary duty is to enact effective reforms in political and economic sectors to facilitate broad-based, participatory national elections that are considered credible both nationally and internationally. With this objective, the government has embarked on various reform initiatives, forming several committees to propose recommendations, which are expected within the next three months.
Time to initiate urgent reforms in the banking sector
After the students' movement, an interim government assumed the responsibility of state management under special circumstances. The interim government is now passing three months in office. Public expectations from this government are very high. People hope that it will steer the country towards sustainable development by addressing the various damages created in society. However, there are growing concerns that public trust in the interim government is gradually fading. Although several commissions have been formed for reforms in various sectors, the general public is not well-informed about their activities and progress. In particular, there is skepticism about what the interim government is planning regarding the troubled banking sector and how much of that we will be able to see reflected in the future.
Our economy and the nobel in economics
Since the change in power, a climate of uncertainty has pervaded the country. Instability is evident in law enforcement and administration, affecting the economy. There is a state of paralysis in business and trade, which has been ongoing even before the interim government took office. While businesses are closing one after another, the amount of non-performing loans is rising.
Factors hindering country’s investment and trade environment
A recent report by the World Bank titled “Business Ready” has expressed dissatisfaction with the current business and trade environment in Bangladesh. It states that the existing conditions for business and trade in Bangladesh are far from favorable. As a result, despite having immense potential, the country is struggling to perform well in international trade. Considering the current realities of the business environment, Bangladesh has been placed fourth in the rankings. In a review based on ten indicators, Bangladesh scored 53.86 out of a total of 100 points.
Due to why printing money cause inflation
In a speech to the nation, Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that the people of the country are suffering from inflation due to the 'fascist' government's decision to print and release an additional Tk 600 billion for looting. Controlling this inflation is one of the interim government's main objectives. The Governor of Bangladesh Bank has also blamed this Tk 600 billion for the inflation and rising prices. The liquidity crisis in the banking sector has become so severe that several banks are now forced to collect deposits at interest rates above 12%. Due to the instability in the country and the banking sector, investment has stagnated, with some banks opting to invest in government treasury bills and bonds. Not only banks, but private individuals are also making significant investments in these government bills and bonds at high interest rates. The uncertainty in the industrial sector and high-interest rates have caused a crash in the stock market.
Oversight alone won't strengthen weak banks
Upon taking office, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur commented that ten banks in the country are in a state of bankruptcy. He made this remark during a press briefing with journalists. He has also assured that efforts will be made to rescue these banks. However, he has questioned the necessity of weak banks that are not recognized internationally and mentioned plans to merge these weak banks.
Why Fixing Retail Prices of Commodities Fails to Address Market Issues in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, government efforts to fix the retail prices of essential commodities often fall short of achieving long-term price stability. Despite the apparent simplicity of setting price caps to make essential goods more affordable, this approach overlooks the intricate economic and structural challenges in the country’s commodity markets. Understanding the underlying factors, from supply chain inefficiencies to regulatory shortcomings, sheds light on why fixing prices is not a sustainable solution for managing the retail price of commoditie
Revisiting loan account rescheduling essential
According to a recent newspaper report citing reliable sources, the banking sector has regularized two and a half lakh crores taka of defaulted loans over the past five years through rescheduling. Notably, on the eve of the last national parliament elections, 93 thousand crores were regularized in just a few months. This trend of converting significant amounts of defaulted loans into regular loans is concerning.