Bangladesh Bank has held its key policy repo rate steady at 10 percent for the first half of the current fiscal year, reaffirming its commitment to a tight monetary stance aimed at curbing persistent inflation, weak private investment, and growing uncertainty over global trade.

Diversifying Bangladesh’s export basket has been a high-priority policy objective for many years.

Some banks are simply non-viable and suffer from inherent governance problems.

There is ample evidence showing that both domestic and foreign direct investment (FDI) have a significant positive effect on economic growth.

The finance ministry has identified seven major challenges including tight monetary and fiscal policies, taken to tame elevated inflation levels for more than three years, in next fiscal year that may increase unemployment.

The estimate is almost close to the projection by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 3.8 percent for the year.

The silver lining is that the economy isn’t falling apart

The Bangladesh Bank will consider slashing the policy rate to 7 percent by March, provided that rampant inflation, which has hovered above 9 percent for nearly two years, eases to 5 percent by then, Governor Ahsan H Mansur said yesterday.

Bangladesh's agro-processed exports are already rising.

We have the potential to be a globally competitive country politically and economically.

Giordano Korea CEO sees ‘familiar signs of promise’ as he plans a factory in economic zone

World Bank report on Bangladesh's investment prospects should be taken seriously

Since taking oath in January, US President Donald Trump has made raising tariffs on foreign goods a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

Rising prices hurt the poor, forcing cuts to necessities and increasing poverty in Bangladesh.

CPD’s emphasis on macroeconomic stability amid LDC graduation concerns

Bangladesh must implement decisive measures to rectify its structural vulnerabilities, governance deficiencies, and external dependencies.

Bangladesh’s economy exhibited a gradual recovery in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024-25, but it faces substantial hurdles, including inflationary pressures, a shortfall in revenue collection, slow public spending, diminished job opportunities and a sluggish investment climate.

Govt must rein in inflation, adopt more business-friendly policies

While stabilising the economy is a priority, the roots of Bangladesh’s recent turmoil lie in a crisis of governance.

This growth was largely supported by a 30 percent year-on-year surge in imports in December 2024.