February Inflation Reaches 10-Month High Due to Rising Food Prices
Inflation in Bangladesh rose again in February, surpassing 9 percent. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reported that the overall inflation rate stood at 9.13 percent, which is the highest in the last 10 months.
The pressure has mainly been created due to the increase in food prices. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, prices of almost all food commodities globally, including wheat, edible oil, and meat, increased in February. The impact has also been felt in the markets of Bangladesh.
According to BBS data, food inflation in February was 9.30 percent, which was 8.29 percent in January. Non-food inflation stood at 9.01 percent. In February, inflation in rural areas was 9.21 percent, while in urban areas it was 9.07 percent.
Inflation has been on an upward trend in Bangladesh for the past three years. In the 2023–24 fiscal year, the average inflation rate was 9.73 percent, which was the highest in 13 years. In the 2024–25 fiscal year, the average inflation increased further to 10.03 percent.
Economists say that inflation cannot be controlled simply by increasing the policy interest rate. The government has failed to break market syndicates and control extortion. Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development, believes that the data published by BBS does not reflect the real picture of inflation. According to him, the actual inflation is even higher.
He said, “Due to the war in the Middle East, a fuel shortage has emerged. Transportation costs will increase, and food prices in the international market will also rise. In this situation, inflation cannot be controlled without proper market management and monitoring.”
BBS stated that the monthly inflation rate is published by analyzing data from 154 markets across 64 districts of the country. From March 2025 to February 2026, the average inflation rate was 8.65 percent.
