Abstract: Bangladesh's rich textile heritage offers powerful, yet distinct, models for sustainable development. This study conducts a comparative analysis of two premier handloom sectors: the intricate Jamdani weaving of Tangail and the symbolic Khadi fabric of Cumilla. Framed within green economy principles, the research examines their socio-economic viability, environmental footprint, and potential as engines for pollution-free community development. Employing a mixed-methods approach (July-December 2025), the analysis incorporates surveys, environmental impact assessment, and case studies of both a "GI Gold" Jamdani export initiative and a revived Khadi business plan. Key comparative findings reveal: (1) Both sectors possess underutilized Geographical Indication (GI) status, but face different market challenges—Jamdani contends with high-skill imitation, while Khadi battles generic, low-cost substitutes; (2) their production paradigms, though both low-pollution, differ fundamentally, with Jamdani emphasizing artistic virtuosity and Khadi embodying philosophical self-reliance; and (3) their developmental contexts vary, with Tangail's model being craft-cluster centric and Cumilla's requiring synergistic infrastructure (e.g., airport revival) for growth. The study concludes that while both heritage textiles are potent vehicles for sustainable development, tailored, integrated strategies—recognizing their unique cultural, economic, and infrastructural ecosystems—are essential to unlock their full potential for artisan well-being, cultural preservation, and green economic growth in their respective regions.
Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between national income and tourism expenditure, framed within the context of the Engel curve, for six South Asian nations with significant potential for Halal tourism: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Utilizing a Generalized Least Squares (GLS) model on panel data from 2000 to 2024, we analyze the impact of GDP per capita on outbound tourism expenditure. Our findings indicate a positive and elastic income elasticity of tourism demand (0.989), signifying that tourism is a luxury good and that financial outlay on travel increases more than proportionally with income. The results underscore the critical opportunity for these countries to develop their Halal tourism sectors to capture a share of this elastic expenditure, thereby fostering economic diversification and employment generation. The study concludes with targeted policy recommendations aimed at leveraging this income-elastic demand for sustainable economic development.
Abstract: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India plays a crucial role in trading stocks, derivatives, and debt instruments. Between 2021 and 2025, global economic uncertainty, driven by pandemic effects, fluctuating interest rates, geopolitical conflicts, and shifts in capital movements, significantly impacted financial markets, including the NSE. This research investigates how challenges like post-pandemic recovery, changes in foreign investment, and tightening monetary policies affected the NSE’s income and trading activity. By analysing secondary data from financial statements and economic reports, the study evaluates trends in revenue, net profits, and trading volumes. Increased global uncertainty led to market volatility and corrections in equity indices. Despite these challenges, the NSE's robust domestic investor base and diversified revenue helped mitigate adverse effects. The findings highlight the importance of adaptive risk management and regulatory consistency in maintaining financial performance during global instability.
Abstract: This research report provides an in-depth analysis of the persistent liquidity crisis within Bangladesh's banking sector. Characterized by a severe shortage of available cash to meet obligations, the crisis threatens financial stability and long-term economic growth. The study identifies the multifaceted causes of the crisis, which are predominantly rooted in systemic governance failures rather than external shocks. Key factors include alarming levels of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) driven by poor credit governance and willful defaults, a declining trend in deposit growth, significant capital flight, and foreign currency mismanagement. The report assesses the profound impacts of this crisis, including constrained credit flow to productive sectors, erosion of public trust, and heightened systemic risk. It evaluates recent regulatory interventions by Bangladesh Bank, such as the unification of weak banks and the introduction of the Bank Resolution Ordinance 2025. Through analytical review, the report concludes that while these are positive steps, their long-term efficacy depends on rigorous implementation. The study recommends a holistic strategy encompassing stringent governance reforms, aggressive NPL resolution through asset reconstruction companies, monetary and fiscal policy coordination, technological integration for transparency, and confidence-building measures to attract deposits. The findings underscore that a sustainable solution requires unwavering political will to address deep-seated institutional corruption and mismanagement.
Abstract: This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the components and effectiveness of the money supply process in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on its underlying determinants, trends, and policy implications. The primary objective is to evaluate whether the existing money supply mechanism, as implemented by the Bangladesh Bank, is effective in meeting the country’s macroeconomic objectives of price stability, economic growth, and financial stability. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, integrating both descriptive and econometric analyses. Descriptive statistics and trend analysis are used to examine the historical patterns of monetary aggregates namely the monetary base (H), money multiplier (m), narrow money (M1), and broad money (M2) over the past two decades.
The results reveal that the money supply process in Bangladesh exhibits both short-run volatility and long-run stability, with the monetary base and money multiplier jointly influencing the expansion of M2. Co-integration tests confirm the existence of long-term equilibrium relationships among monetary aggregates, while ECM results suggest a moderate speed of adjustment toward equilibrium following shocks. However, structural break analysis indicates that global financial crises, domestic policy shifts, and recent pandemic-related disruptions have caused significant short-term deviations.
The findings highlight that although the Bangladesh Bank’s monetary policy framework has been largely effective in steering the long-run trajectory of the money supply, challenges remain in managing short-run fluctuations and in aligning monetary expansion with real economic growth. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the money supply process, including improving forecasting models, strengthening monetary transmission mechanisms, and enhancing coordination between monetary and fiscal policy.