Governance

In the first quarter of 2025, Bangladesh reported only 641 malaria cases and one death – a dramatic fall from the 13,099 cases and six deaths recorded in 2024, and a far cry from the 84,690 cases and 154 fatalities seen in 2008 at the height of the country’s malaria burden.

Harnessing innovation and resilience could transform it into a global powerhouse; inaction risks deeper food insecurity and economic fragility for millions.

In a landmark economic achievement, Bangladesh has recorded its highest ever annual remittance inflows in calendar year 2025, with workers abroad sending home a staggering US $32.82 billion – a level not seen before in the nation’s history.

Under the revised framework, foreign nationals granted permanent work quotas will face stricter documentation requirements when registering their workplace locations.

A key piece of Nepal’s long-anticipated trade infrastructure has stalled dramatically after Beijing informed Kathmandu that it is halting construction of the Rasuwa dry port, a China-funded inland container depot near the Nepal-China border.

Without decisive reforms, the report warns, the erosion of independent media will not only deepen informational marginalization but also weaken democratic accountability in a region already fraught with conflict and neglect.

The 2025 monsoon season arrived with unusual ferocity, delivering 8 per cent more rainfall than the long-term average across the Indian subcontinent.

Many households will meet minimum food needs only by depleting essential livelihood assets – a sharp deterioration compared with the previous year.