Safety-net programmes must be better targeted. The proposal to policymakers is simple: before deciding, listen to the people the decision is for. Local experience is often more useful than the thickest report.

We often cite success stories from other countries. The real challenge is not to copy them but to adapt them to our own reality. Without strong institutions, even good policy stays on paper.

In the end it comes down to trust. When citizens believe they will be heard and their taxes well spent, any initiative can succeed. Building that trust is the most urgent task now.

Our debate on inflationary pressure too often gets stuck in instant reactions. Getting to the root of the problem needs a long-term view — one that weighs data, experience and people's real lives together.

The writer is Dr. Faruk Hossain Chowdhury, Economist & Columnist. Views expressed are the writer's own.