To make e-buses work, Dhaka needs transport reform
Dhaka recently ranked as the world’s third least liveable city in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2026, for the second consecutive year. This reflects a transport crisis that deepens congestion, air pollution, waterlogging, and extreme heat. So, the government’s plan to introduce some 1,400 electric buses offers a chance to do more than replacing diesel-run buses. […]
Bangladesh’s SMEs and the Future of Sustainable Manufacturing
Bangladesh’s garment industry is often represented through its large export-oriented factories, but the sector’s resilience depends on a much wider network of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Dye houses, washing facilities, accessory manufacturers, and subcontracted producers form the interconnected production ecosystem that allows the industry to scale, adapt, and respond to global market demands (BGMEA, […]
“Bangladesh’s labor market is failing its youth” – An interview with Industry Insider
Without decent jobs, growth loses meaning Bangladesh has recorded years of economic expansion, yet employment growth has not kept pace. Why has growth become so weak in generating jobs? How do you explain the low job elasticity of growth in Bangladesh? Which sectors are expanding without creating enough employment, and why? In 2018, Jonathan Garber, […]
Is Bangladesh’s Manufacturing Sector Fit to Compete?
Apparel, textiles, leather and leather goods, food and beverages contributed 97% of the total industrial export in Bangladesh in 2020. Bangladesh is the 39th largest economy in the world, in nominal terms, and the 29th largest by purchasing power parity. It is classified among the next eleven emerging market middle-income economies and a frontier market. […]