Rahat Ahmed
@rahatahmed.bsky.social
Global capital, diaspora and narrative for Bangladesh. Also some film, ramen and gaming. A New Yorker-Texan back in Dhaka. 🇧🇩☀️
Traveling in...
2005: Handwritten notes
2015: Smartphone+Google
2025: ChatGPT
2005: Handwritten notes
2015: Smartphone+Google
2025: ChatGPT
July 29, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Traveling in...
2005: Handwritten notes
2015: Smartphone+Google
2025: ChatGPT
2005: Handwritten notes
2015: Smartphone+Google
2025: ChatGPT
A necessary, much needed refresh of the
Bangladesh Investment Development Agency (BIDA) website—now with more relevant information and an energy to match the opportunity: bida.gov.bd
Bangladesh Investment Development Agency (BIDA) website—now with more relevant information and an energy to match the opportunity: bida.gov.bd
June 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
A necessary, much needed refresh of the
Bangladesh Investment Development Agency (BIDA) website—now with more relevant information and an energy to match the opportunity: bida.gov.bd
Bangladesh Investment Development Agency (BIDA) website—now with more relevant information and an energy to match the opportunity: bida.gov.bd
Bangladesh needs to stop thinking in millions—the world operates in billions.
May 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Bangladesh needs to stop thinking in millions—the world operates in billions.
Armchair idealism isn’t going to pay bills or create jobs.
We need to be pragmatic to build a better Bangladesh.
We need to be pragmatic to build a better Bangladesh.
March 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Armchair idealism isn’t going to pay bills or create jobs.
We need to be pragmatic to build a better Bangladesh.
We need to be pragmatic to build a better Bangladesh.
I like finding new people to follow on @letterboxd.social by seeing who gave I Come with the Rain a high rating.
letterboxd.com/film/i-come-...
letterboxd.com/film/i-come-...
I Come with the Rain (2009)
Kline, a former Los Angeles police officer turned private detective, is hired by a powerful pharmaceutical conglomerate boss to investigate in Asia the disappearance of his only son, Shitao, whom he h...
letterboxd.com
March 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I like finding new people to follow on @letterboxd.social by seeing who gave I Come with the Rain a high rating.
letterboxd.com/film/i-come-...
letterboxd.com/film/i-come-...
Access to cheap capital in Bangladesh is dead and dying.
Families who don’t institutionalize their businesses and balance sheets will be left behind in favor of those that do.
Families who don’t institutionalize their businesses and balance sheets will be left behind in favor of those that do.
March 16, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Access to cheap capital in Bangladesh is dead and dying.
Families who don’t institutionalize their businesses and balance sheets will be left behind in favor of those that do.
Families who don’t institutionalize their businesses and balance sheets will be left behind in favor of those that do.
Bangladesh is the only sizable country where the development sector pays more than the financial sector—and as long as this continues, true socioeconomic progress will not be possible.
February 21, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Bangladesh is the only sizable country where the development sector pays more than the financial sector—and as long as this continues, true socioeconomic progress will not be possible.
The Bangladeshi diaspora is a global network of talent, capital, and influence. We have a generational opportunity to harness it and channel it towards a stronger Bangladesh. A more structured approach could create real opportunities, strengthen industries, and elevate Bangladesh on globally.
Leveraging the Bangladeshi diaspora: A generational opportunity for national development
In the weeks following August 5, interest from non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in the professional sector surged. Messages poured in: “Tell me how I can help; I’ll move back,” and “I don’t need to ma...
www.thedailystar.net
February 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
The Bangladeshi diaspora is a global network of talent, capital, and influence. We have a generational opportunity to harness it and channel it towards a stronger Bangladesh. A more structured approach could create real opportunities, strengthen industries, and elevate Bangladesh on globally.
Climate in Bangladesh is a joke.
Glorified dawats with photo ops and no accountability.
Foreign development orgs and embassies enabling this should be embarrassed. Local enablers should be ashamed.
And both should be publicly called out at this point.
Glorified dawats with photo ops and no accountability.
Foreign development orgs and embassies enabling this should be embarrassed. Local enablers should be ashamed.
And both should be publicly called out at this point.
February 13, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Climate in Bangladesh is a joke.
Glorified dawats with photo ops and no accountability.
Foreign development orgs and embassies enabling this should be embarrassed. Local enablers should be ashamed.
And both should be publicly called out at this point.
Glorified dawats with photo ops and no accountability.
Foreign development orgs and embassies enabling this should be embarrassed. Local enablers should be ashamed.
And both should be publicly called out at this point.
VENTURE CAPITAL LICENSES IN BANGLADESH ARE USELESS
Since 2019, 12 alternative investment fund licenses have been issued—but the total investment across all funds is likely under $10M.
In an economy nearing half a trillion dollars.
And you wonder why the ecosystem is lagging? 🧵
Since 2019, 12 alternative investment fund licenses have been issued—but the total investment across all funds is likely under $10M.
In an economy nearing half a trillion dollars.
And you wonder why the ecosystem is lagging? 🧵
February 5, 2025 at 10:25 AM
VENTURE CAPITAL LICENSES IN BANGLADESH ARE USELESS
Since 2019, 12 alternative investment fund licenses have been issued—but the total investment across all funds is likely under $10M.
In an economy nearing half a trillion dollars.
And you wonder why the ecosystem is lagging? 🧵
Since 2019, 12 alternative investment fund licenses have been issued—but the total investment across all funds is likely under $10M.
In an economy nearing half a trillion dollars.
And you wonder why the ecosystem is lagging? 🧵
1/ Yesterday, India pledged $1.15B to a fund of funds for startups—plus tax benefits & credit guarantees for key industries.
Bangladesh’s equivalent would be $145M, but let’s be real: it wouldn’t achieve much. Why? 🧵
Bangladesh’s equivalent would be $145M, but let’s be real: it wouldn’t achieve much. Why? 🧵
February 2, 2025 at 1:51 PM
1/ Yesterday, India pledged $1.15B to a fund of funds for startups—plus tax benefits & credit guarantees for key industries.
Bangladesh’s equivalent would be $145M, but let’s be real: it wouldn’t achieve much. Why? 🧵
Bangladesh’s equivalent would be $145M, but let’s be real: it wouldn’t achieve much. Why? 🧵
WHY DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL IS FAILING BANGLADESH:
5 TRUTHS NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
Development capital played a key role in Bangladesh’s rise. But today, it’s failing—especially in job creation. While misaligned incentives are often discussed, deeper, more “taboo” issues need confronting. 🧵👇
5 TRUTHS NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
Development capital played a key role in Bangladesh’s rise. But today, it’s failing—especially in job creation. While misaligned incentives are often discussed, deeper, more “taboo” issues need confronting. 🧵👇
January 30, 2025 at 7:07 AM
WHY DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL IS FAILING BANGLADESH:
5 TRUTHS NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
Development capital played a key role in Bangladesh’s rise. But today, it’s failing—especially in job creation. While misaligned incentives are often discussed, deeper, more “taboo” issues need confronting. 🧵👇
5 TRUTHS NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT
Development capital played a key role in Bangladesh’s rise. But today, it’s failing—especially in job creation. While misaligned incentives are often discussed, deeper, more “taboo” issues need confronting. 🧵👇
Bangladesh won’t become a self-sustaining, middle-income country if it stays reliant on low-quality, inefficient development capital. The recent U.S. freeze is just the start—as other nations turn more nationalistic, this trend will only grow.
The quality of capital matters.
The quality of capital matters.
January 29, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Bangladesh won’t become a self-sustaining, middle-income country if it stays reliant on low-quality, inefficient development capital. The recent U.S. freeze is just the start—as other nations turn more nationalistic, this trend will only grow.
The quality of capital matters.
The quality of capital matters.
FROM HANOI TO DHAKA: WHERE ARE OUR AMBITIONS?
Lotte, a Korean industrial conglomerate, has built a phenomenal mall amidst larger real estate ambitions in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital city.
This indicates two things:
Lotte, a Korean industrial conglomerate, has built a phenomenal mall amidst larger real estate ambitions in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital city.
This indicates two things:
January 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
FROM HANOI TO DHAKA: WHERE ARE OUR AMBITIONS?
Lotte, a Korean industrial conglomerate, has built a phenomenal mall amidst larger real estate ambitions in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital city.
This indicates two things:
Lotte, a Korean industrial conglomerate, has built a phenomenal mall amidst larger real estate ambitions in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital city.
This indicates two things:
What I’ll likely be posting about:
• Bangladesh and Bangladeshis
• Investments and technology
• Sports and video games
• Travel and food
What I likely won’t be posting about:
• Politics
• Celebrities
Feel free to follow me if this interests you.
• Bangladesh and Bangladeshis
• Investments and technology
• Sports and video games
• Travel and food
What I likely won’t be posting about:
• Politics
• Celebrities
Feel free to follow me if this interests you.
January 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
What I’ll likely be posting about:
• Bangladesh and Bangladeshis
• Investments and technology
• Sports and video games
• Travel and food
What I likely won’t be posting about:
• Politics
• Celebrities
Feel free to follow me if this interests you.
• Bangladesh and Bangladeshis
• Investments and technology
• Sports and video games
• Travel and food
What I likely won’t be posting about:
• Politics
• Celebrities
Feel free to follow me if this interests you.