The Star Business pages of The Daily Star spotlighted a series of significant economic developments last week.
Among them, five stood out for their impact and relevance—ranging from trade frictions and environmental accountability to political economy legacies, forward-looking macro expectations, and a record surge in remittance inflows.
Here is a recap of those five major reports:
Spinners blame India for dumping yarn (Dec 29)
Local spinning millers alleged that a sharp surge in yarn imports from India—up 137 percent year-on-year—was the result of dumping practices that undercut domestic prices.
Industry leaders warned that continued inflows threaten capacity utilisation, employment, and investment, and urged the government to review safeguard measures to protect local producers.
Heavier carbon footprint by telecom giants (Dec 30)
Bangladesh’s leading telecom operators recorded a notable rise in carbon emissions, driven by network expansion and higher energy consumption.
The report highlighted gaps in renewable energy adoption and disclosure practices, prompting calls for clearer regulatory guidance and stronger incentives to align the fast-growing digital sector with national climate commitments.
The economy Khaleda Zia trusted others to build (Dec 31)
An examination of economic management during the tenure of Khaleda Zia showed a leadership style that delegated policymaking to technocrats while prioritising political stability.
The report traced how this approach shaped fiscal discipline, private sector confidence, and long-term structural outcomes, with mixed assessments from economists.
Can the economy turn around in 2026? (Jan 1)
Economists expressed cautious optimism about a potential economic turnaround in 2026, contingent on tighter fiscal discipline, banking sector reforms, and improved investment sentiment.
The analysis noted that stabilising inflation, managing the exchange rate, and restoring confidence among businesses and consumers will be critical to sustaining recovery momentum.
Remittances hit record $32b in 2025 (Jan 2)
Bangladesh received a record $32 billion in remittances in 2025, providing vital support to foreign exchange reserves amid external pressures.
Officials attributed the rise to formal channel incentives and stable overseas employment, noting that sustained inflows could ease balance-of-payments risks and support currency stability in the near term.
