Thinking Aloud: Volume XI, Issue 8: January 1, 2025

The latest issue of Thinking Aloud dives deep into Bangladesh’s challenges and the way forward for the year 2025. Here’s what to expect:

First Page: “Charting a Path Forward: Strategic Priorities for Bangladesh in 2025”

The article sheds light on the significant economic challenges that Bangladesh is facing while entering 2025, particularly persistent inflation, despite some improvements in exports and remittances. With these challenges in mind, policymakers must take actions that offer immediate economic relief and facilitate broader reform measures. The article concludes that the country needs coordinated economic reforms and policy actions, but political tensions and disagreements over broader institutional reforms threaten to derail progress.

Second Page: “Why does Bangladesh spend so little on education and healthcare, and what can be done?”

This piece analyses Bangladesh’s underinvestment in education and healthcare throughout history, stemming from its political-economy factors. The piece reiterates that investing in education and healthcare is not merely a social responsibility; it is an economic imperative for Bangladesh’s sustainable development.

Third Page: “An Analysis of Bangladesh’s ADP Budget: Challenges and Reforms”

The third article examines the Annual Development Programme (ADP), which faces serious challenges including low implementation rates, bureaucratic delays, widespread corruption, and poor monitoring systems. The article recommended that to improve ADP’s effectiveness, reforms are needed in various mechanisms through digital platforms and strengthened oversight.

Fourth Page: Recap of December 2024 Events

With this thought-provoking issue, the editorial desk would like to wish the readers and well-wishers of Thinking Aloud a happy new year!