Bangladesh’s GDP Growth Slumps to 3.49% in 2024‑25 Fiscal Year, Lowest in Five Years
Bangladesh’s economy faced a significant setback in the 2024‑25 fiscal year. According to the final figures released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth stood at just 3.49 percent during this period, marking the lowest in the past five fiscal years.
Earlier, the growth had been estimated temporarily at 3.97 percent, but the final figure dropped further. In the previous fiscal year 2023‑24, growth was 4.22 percent, which had been the lowest in four years at that time.
Economists note that post-COVID recovery was disrupted in 2024 by strikes, blockades, conflicts, and internet shutdowns, which stalled the economy. The impact was visible throughout the fiscal year, with GDP growth in the first quarter reaching only 1.96 percent, compared to 5.87 percent in the same period the previous year.
BBS data shows that in 2024‑25, the investment-to-GDP ratio stood at 28.54 percent, down from 30.70 percent in the previous fiscal year.
Meanwhile, per capita income increased to $2,769 from $2,738 in the previous fiscal year, a rise of $31 over the year. However, the provisional per capita income had been $2,820, which was revised down by $51 in the final figures. Thus, the highest per capita income remains at $2,793 from the 2021‑22 fiscal year.
Economists believe that political instability and slow investment are the main reasons for the slowdown in growth. They emphasize that to stabilize the economy, it is essential to increase investment, activate productive sectors, and ensure financial discipline.
