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Swiss economy slows after pre-tariff export rush

Switzerland’s economic growth slowed sharply in the second quarter as exports fell after companies rushed to stockpile goods ahead of steep new US tariffs, official data showed Friday...

Indonesia’s president touts economy, social welfare drive

Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto emphasised an expectation-defying economy, low unemployment rate and slew of ambitious social welfare initiatives as he delivered his first state address to parliament on Friday...

We must stop squandering water

WATER runs through the veins of Bangladesh — shaping our land, feeding our people and sustaining our economy. With more than 700 rivers and a maze of wetlands, ponds, canals and coastal ecosystems, the country is blessed with extraordinary freshwater and marine wealth. Yet this abundance is underappreciated, undervalued and increasingly under threat. As...

People’s economy or economy’s people?

AT THE Singapore Changi Airport, I was waiting for my connecting flight to Brisbane, Australia. I entered one of the restaurants for a meal. As I waited for my order to be served, I looked around. My attention was grabbed by a service robot which was given the name Wendy. Wendy was moving around and collecting used dishes from the tables. As she did her work, she...

Ocean Centres to be launched today

The Ocean Centres Bangladesh, a multi-stakeholder platform to advance safety culture to promote a sustainable blue economy and marine conservation, is scheduled to be launched in Dhaka today...

Midsized German firms bet on niche products

While Germany’s big companies groan under the US tariff burden, many small and midsize firms, the backbone of Europe’s top economy, are confident their highly-specialised goods will just keep selling...

Economists need to see things with inner eyes

Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Monday slammed a section of economists for their reluctance to see any positive move of the country’s economy and urged them to see things with inner eyes...

Experts call for modernising Companies Act

Experts called for an urgent update to the Companies Act 1994, citing the existing law inadequate for the needs of a modern economy...

Most economy-related expectations unmet

Many expectations, including a sustainable recovery of the country’s damaged economy, have remained unmet in the past one year since the July mass uprising, businesses and economists said.

GED projects cautious optimism for economy in FY26

In its latest monthly economic update, the General Economics Division (GED) of the Bangladesh Planning Commission has projected cautious optimism for the country’s economic trajectory in FY2026, highlighting both the encouraging trends and persistent structural challenges...

Balance of power underlined for thrust in economy

Changes in the powers of prime minister and parliament members are imperative for a new political settlement and a thrust in the economy, said finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Saturday.   

Pvt sector credit growth hits 22-year low

Private sector credit growth in Bangladesh fell to record 6.40 per cent in June 2025, the lowest in 22 years, reflecting deepening stress in the country’s economy...

S Korea economy grows in Q2 on exports surge

South Korea’s economy grew 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, the country’s central bank said Thursday, as strong demand for semiconductors propelled exports to its biggest gain in nearly five years...

ECB expected to hold rates as US tariff uncertainty lingers

The European Central Bank is set to hold interest rates for the first time in almost a year when policymakers meet this week, despite concerns over the potential impact of higher US tariffs on the eurozone economy...

Stocks consolidate after bumper week buoyed by US economy

US and European stock markets stalled or trimmed gains on Friday after a bullish week buoyed by US data and upbeat company earnings...

China’s economy grows 5.2pc on trade war truce

China’s economy expanded more than five per cent in the second quarter, official data showed Tuesday, buoyed by strong exports but analysts warned that more work was needed to address sluggish consumer demand...

US consumer inflation accelerates

US consumer inflation picked up in line with analyst expectations last month, government data showed Tuesday, as policymakers try to gauge how president Donald Trump’s ever-growing list of tariffs is affecting the economy...

The ‘economy of genocide’ report: reckoning beyond rhetoric

FRANCESCA Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestine, stands as a testament to the notion of speaking truth to power. This ‘power’ is not solely embodied by Israel or even the United States, but by an international community whose collective relevance has tragically failed to stem the ongoing genocide in Gaza...

UK economy unexpectedly shrinks in May in a blow to government

Britain’s economy unexpectedly contracted for a second month in a row in May, official data showed Friday, in a blow to Britain’s Labour government as it seeks to kickstart growth...

Is BRICS way forward?

I RETURNED to the US from Cuba just a few hours before president Donald Trump signed a memorandum on June 30 tightening the long-standing US economic blockade. The memorandum includes a statutory ban on US tourism to the neighboring island...

SME Foundation, UNIDO to work on circular economy

The Small and Medium Enterprise Foundation and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation have planned to collaborate on fostering environmentally friendly initiatives, promoting circular industries, and supporting circular economy-based startups and micro, small and medium enterprises in Bangladesh...

GDP growth notches  up 4.86pc during Jan-March of FY25

Bangladesh’s economy grew by 4.86 per cent during the January to March quarter of the fiscal year 2025, buoyed by a rebound in industry and services...

Economy and power dynamics

THE international order is undergoing a profound transformation. Once defined by Cold War bipolarity — and later by a US-dominated unipolar moment — the global landscape today is increasingly multipolar, fragmented and competitive. The rise of rival power blocks, overlapping strategic partnerships and a resurgence of regionalism are reshaping global politics across...

Political economy of indigenous dispossession

Budget not amiable for equitable economy: CPD

The proposed national budget for FY2025–26 has failed to address the ongoing economic challenges in the country, speakers said at a dialogue organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Dhaka on Sunday...

Container handling at Ctg port rises by 4.6pc in FY25

Chittagong Port — widely regarded as the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy — has achieved record-breaking container handling figures in the 2024-25 financial year, despite facing a series of significant operational disruptions...

China factory output slows

Growth in China’s factory output hit a six-month low last month as trade war pressures bit, official data showed Monday, while a bump in a key gauge of domestic consumption offered a rare bright spot for the economy...

UK economy shrinks in April

Britain’s economy shrank more than expected in April following a tax hike on UK businesses and a record drop in exports to the United States due to president Donald Trump’s tariffs, official data showed Thursday...

US inflation edges up in May

US consumer inflation ticked up in May, in line with analyst expectations, government data showed Wednesday as president Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs began to ripple through the world’s biggest economy...

Rebuilding capital market

BANGLADESH’S economy has earned global praise for its steady growth, rising GDP, and infrastructure development. Yet, behind this promising macroeconomic narrative lies a capital market in deep distress. Once considered a barometer of national prosperity, the stock market now reflects a grim reality — defined by persistent instability, eroded investor confidence...