Problems that persist over time turn into difficult to solve structural ones | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 03, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 03, 2025
Problems that persist over time turn into difficult to solve structural ones

Analysis

Rehman Sobhan
17 December, 2022, 10:10 pm
Last modified: 18 December, 2022, 12:44 pm

Related News

  • The economy in FY25: Battling challenging times
  • Salehuddin for technological integration to develop SME sector
  • Container congestion eases at Ctg Port, full recovery expected within a week
  • Revenue collection falls record Tk1 lakh cr short of revised FY25 target 
  • Policy reforms and political voice key to sustainable growth for MSMEs: Experts

Problems that persist over time turn into difficult to solve structural ones

Rehman Sobhan
17 December, 2022, 10:10 pm
Last modified: 18 December, 2022, 12:44 pm
Problems that persist over time turn into difficult to solve structural ones

The CPD's IRBD (Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development) initiative is now approaching 30 years. Since 1995, its whole objective has been not to be a critic of government policies, but to enable public discussion of policies by stakeholders. The whole premise of CPD and its IRBD was that policy-making should be a consensus process involving stakeholders including both the government and the opposition, civil society, foreign partners and a wider constituency of ordinary people.

Never view these exercises as adversarial but essentially as part of institutionalisation of collaboration between the state and civil society. The best friends of an incumbent government are those who are ready to point out the problems and then come up with suggestions as policymakers, because of the very nature of the governance, are not getting the information they need to make policies effectively. This is particularly important today. Since the economy is on an upward trajectory, we have certainly moved into troubled times for a variety of reasons-- short-term ones I attribute to the Ukraine war and Covid, but there are a series of structural problems which have been building up.

This confluence of ongoing structural problems in the economy with the short-term shocks of the Ukraine war and Covid crisis have created a more aggravated situation where the government of the day, no doubt, is making heroic efforts to deal with. But in such circumstances they can do with all the assistance they get. The notion that they can go on addressing the problems from an exclusive position will be to their disadvantage. They are the only people who are competent to make policies.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Since its first recommendations presented to the then BNP government, the emphasis of CPD's IRBD during the five successive governments has always been on concluding with policy recommendations. We like to come up with positive recommendations. And the measure of good governance is how seriously the policymakers accept [the recommendations] in good faith. They will agree or they will disagree. But they should recognise the constructive elements in the particular exercise.

Some of the problems placed in the presentation here today have been in the list for 10 years. Any problem which has been repeated in terms of solutions over a 10-year period should essentially be qualified as a structural problem which has become embedded in the institutional arrangements and policy-making in the political economy of a particular society. The problems which have been further identified may have originated from short-term impacts of the Ukraine war and Covid and may have catalysed and aggravated some of the long-term crises. I would ask [the commenters here] to keep this distinction in mind because your responses here will be determined not merely for immediate short-term responses, but for how you want to deal with basic problems which should not be recurring in our recommendations another five years down the road, because problems which persist over a period of time move from symptomatic illnesses into cancerous problems within the system. And to deal with such problems within the system is much more serious and certainly for those who are well-wishers of the government in policy-making apparatus, we would not wish them to get into a situation where they have to, in fact, address problems of systemic and cancerous nature and have to deal with the social and political consequences that arise thereon.   

Prof Rehman Sobhan's speech has been slightly edited for space


Prof Rehman Sobhan is the chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue

Disclaimer: Prof Rehman Sobhan shared his thoughts at the Centre for Policy Dialogue's (CPD) Independent Review of Bangladesh's Development (IRBD) programme

Top News

problems / Economy / Prof Rehman Sobhan

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Govt to pay 3-year high ACU bill of $2b next week
    Govt to pay 3-year high ACU bill of $2b next week
  • A file photo of the NBR Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka
    NBR officers gripped by fear as govt gets tough  
  • Bangladesh National Parliament. File Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain
    Has the time come for Bangladesh to embrace PR? 

MOST VIEWED

  • Govt lowers interest rates on savings instruments
    Govt lowers interest rates on savings instruments
  • File photo of Bangladesh Public Service Commission logo. Photo: Collected
    Repeat recommendations in 44th BCS spark vacancy fears
  • File photo of Chattogram Port/TBS
    Ctg port handles record 32.96 lakh containers in FY25, revenue hits Tk75,432 crore
  • Chief adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs and Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi
    Fake documents submission behind visa complications for Bangladeshis: Lutfey Siddiqi
  • Zakir Hossain. Photo: Collected
    Ctg customs commissioner suspended for joining NBR officials' 'complete shutdown'
  • Controversial taxman Matiur’s rulings cost govt Tk1000cr in lost revenue
    Controversial taxman Matiur’s rulings cost govt Tk1000cr in lost revenue

Related News

  • The economy in FY25: Battling challenging times
  • Salehuddin for technological integration to develop SME sector
  • Container congestion eases at Ctg Port, full recovery expected within a week
  • Revenue collection falls record Tk1 lakh cr short of revised FY25 target 
  • Policy reforms and political voice key to sustainable growth for MSMEs: Experts

Features

Illustration: TBS

The buildup to July Uprising: From a simple anti-quota movement to a wildfire against autocracy

6h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Ulan Daspara: Remnants of a fishing village in Dhaka

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Innovative storage accessories you’ll love

3d | Brands
Two competitors in this segment — one a flashy newcomer, the other a hybrid veteran — are going head-to-head: the GAC GS3 Emzoom and the Toyota CH-R. PHOTOS: Nafirul Haq (GAC Emzoom) and Akif Hamid (Toyota CH-R)

GAC Emzoom vs Toyota CH-R: The battle of tech vs trust

3d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Will Syria normalise relations with Israel?

Will Syria normalise relations with Israel?

5h | Others
Multinational companies' participation in the Israeli massacre in Gaza

Multinational companies' participation in the Israeli massacre in Gaza

5h | Others
July fighter Fahim doesn't want to be a burden.

July fighter Fahim doesn't want to be a burden.

6h | TBS Stories
The government has reduced the profit on savings certificates; what is its impact on the common man?

The government has reduced the profit on savings certificates; what is its impact on the common man?

7h | Podcast
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net