Global inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) jumped by six per cent in the last year ending two years of decline, according to the World Investment Report (WIR) 2026 that is just released in Geneva on  Tuesday morning. The amount of global FDI stood at $1.62 trillion in 2025 which was $1.

It was 51 years ago that the Bangladesh government, for the first time in the country’s history, demonetised the Tk 100 banknote. The decision to invalidate the banknote, the highest-value note at the time, was driven by the urgency to curb the spread of fake notes and black money. The formal

The news that Bangladesh-linked funds in Swiss banks swelled further last year sparked debate and speculation in the country. Though there is no clear evidence that the money is stashed away in Bangladesh, several media outlets labelled it an illicit transfer from the country, and some blamed the Y

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) across different areas in economy and trade has pushed countries onto a complex trajectory. To attain optimal gains from trade, wider use of AI now appears unavoidable. Countries are gradually using AI in trade facilitation, a set of measures to e

Bangladesh-linked money in Swiss banks ballooned further in 2025 by 41 per cent from the amount recorded in 2024 when there was a quantum leap of 232 per cent following previous two years' sharp decline. The picture of much-talked-about 'Swiss bank balance' emerges from the Annual Banking St

Like millions of pilgrims, we visited Madinah as part of our Hajj trip this year and stayed there for a week. Though visiting this historic and important city is not obligatory for the Hajj pilgrims, they customarily stay for a week or more there for various reasons. The most important of them is t

When the finance and planning minister formally presented his maiden budget at the national parliament last Thursday, he was aware of the fact that the country's annual public spending plan faces several local and global headwinds. He had to outline the budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in less than f

Following US President Donald Trump's tariff blitz last year, countries worldwide have been shaken by the rise in tariff barriers. Trump's move provoked many countries to impose higher tariffs on imports, increasing trade costs for their partners. Besides the surge in tariffs, the rise in non-tarif