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English language What the papers say

Bangladesh Aims for New Results on Carbon Emissions

To cut carbon emissions, Bangladesh has set an ambitious goal of generating more than 4,100 megawatts of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030

Money transfers through illegal channels undercut remittance figures

Apparel rebound underpins export surge

New economic calculations see changes in growth and GDP

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank loans $260 million for new bridge at Mymensingh

A weekly round up of articles about work, employment, social security, business and the economy. Here is the news for the week ending:

November 4th, 2021

This week’s round up comes from:

The Daily Star, The Business Standard and The Financial Express

This week in Bangladesh…

carbon emissions
Bangladesh leads the Climate Vulnerable Forum (Original image by Md Jewel Patoary, Unsplash)
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What the papers say

Fish Nets Filled

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 8 February 2018.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about Bangladesh being among the top five Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to have achieved economic growth in 2017. We also learn about a rise in exports and remittances. Swiss president gave a positive nod about growing economic relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland. And hilsa fishermen and traders enjoy good business and profits.

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What the papers say

Energy Powers Up

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 21st December, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about Bangladesh Apparel Exchange organizing the first ever fashionology summit in the capital. Domestic demand, infrastructure and new energy initiatives drive growth. And Japan looks to Bangladesh for trained workers.

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What the papers say

Coffee Boosted

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 23rd November, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…we hear about the economic growth of Bangladesh and development of the ICT sector. New ideas and measures have been taken by businesses, activists and the government.

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What the papers say

Trade and Investment

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 26th October, 2017.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

Trade and FDI in Bangladesh have increased. While there have been a few success stories, some problems still exist.

Agriculture continues to face challenges. Some farmers have enjoyed good crop cultivation, whereas others had to bear losses. Banks have shown interest in increasing agriculture loans. This is likely to boost the sector.

Workers both within and outside Bangladesh suffered misfortunes. Unsafe working condition is a major cause. Productivity among women garments workers needs to increase.

The Government has taken good initiatives to enhance women empowerment. Such as access to bank loans, opening help centers for women entrepreneurs and increasing women’s participation in IT related jobs. The Government is also focusing on youth development and employment.

The National Board of Revenue is set to hold tax fairs, workshops and conduct studies.

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What the papers say

Economic Zones Key

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labor market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 23rd June 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…there has been a record FDI flow of $2.2 billion in 2015, which is 44.1% higher compared to 2014. But Economist are skeptical about the targeted GDP growth of 8% because private investment to GDP ratio remains low. As part of private sector development project, World Bank sanctioned a loan of $130 million to Bangladesh. NGOs come together to progress  the Sustainable Development Goals. And Malaysia sends 2500 undocumented Bangladeshi workers home.

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Issues in the Labour Market

Transitions: From School

Transitions: Bangladesh

The Demographic Dividend

Development and population are complex concepts that require more sophisticated models to study them. They affect each other in different ways and the relationship between the two often changes over time. As Bangladesh transitions from a lower income country to a middle income country, it is important to understand some of the social variables that are at work. A demographic transition model (from Hayes and Jones, 2015) helps breakdown the complex interactions between these two variables.

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What the papers say

Growth Forecast

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labour market, skills training and workforce development. This week’s round up is drawn from The Daily Star. Here is the news for the week ending 7th April 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

…Bangladesh met a long awaited growth target and joins a World Trade Organization agreement to save on trade. The government intervenes to correct prices in wheat and oil. Tanners face heavy losses in move to Savar.

Economic Forecast

Bangladesh will achieve 7.05 percent GDP growth in this fiscal year, including a rise of per capita income to USD 1,466. This helps confirm an optimistic growth forecast from the Asian Development Bank in September of last year, which praised Bangladesh for its achievements in the last couple of years.

Bangladesh will ratify the trade facilitation agreement of the WTO, placing it in a community of 57 other countries committed to an easier flow of goods and lower business costs for trade. A recent report argued that developing countries could benefit greatly, increasing export revenue by USD 170-730 billion. Coupled with the news of Bangladesh’s GDP growth forecast, the future looks bright for Bangladesh’s economy.

Relocation Hides Profits

Tanneries in Hazaribagh will mostly likely miss the extended deadline for moving hides and relocating operations to Savar. The Tannery Industrial Estate, a government project to move tanneries out of the capital, further northwest, has been responded to with minimal enthusiasm. Tanneries are having trouble moving the hides, often losing many in the process, and are slow to set up the same utilities and infrastructure they had in Hazaribagh. Only 33% of tanneries have applied for gas connections, and 20% for water. Tanners are worried about the relocation, as they fear losing what could be large profits. Until 50 tanneries relocate, the government can’t begin the operation of the factory, leading to further lost profits.

Intervening on Prices

Low wheat prices and an increase in imported wheat dampens the hope of a more profitable season for farmers. However, later in the week, the Government announced it would support wheat farmers by purchasing wheat from the beginning of next week, lasting until the end of May. The Government will buy a total of 200 000 tonnes of wheat, out of the 1 398 000 tonnes produced this season. While the purchase will not vastly improve the condition of wheat farmers, it will help them get through a tougher season.

The call for cheaper petroleum was answered as the government lowers the price of furnace oil from Tk 60 to Tk 42 a litre. As the global market for oil fell in mid 2014 and continued to stay low, local markets urged the government to follow suit to encourage individual consumers and businesses.

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Work Stream

The Path from Poverty

The UK Department for International Development is designing a programme to continue its efforts to end extreme poverty.

As a member of the design team Shaila provided her expertise in Social Development and Gender.

The team designed DFID’s next extreme poverty programme for Bangladesh. The mission operated in Bangladesh from September to December 2015 with submission of the design document in March 2016.

Shaila led on social mobilisation, gender, community participation, voice, and local government engagement.

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What the papers say

Structuring Tomorrow

A weekly round up of articles about employment, the labour market, skills training and workforce development.This week’s round up is drawn from The Financial Express. Here is the news for the week ending 24th March 2016.

This week in the Bangladesh English Press…

….International Chamber Commerce debates sustainable development goals while United Nations conferences on urban policy. Trade agreements in flux with China and Malaysia. And pharmaceuticals and light engineerings receive policy support. The Government supports poor fisherman and protects vulnerable farmers.