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.
Debapriya Bhattacharya Criticizes Bangladesh’s Request to Defer LDC Graduation
Debapriya Bhattacharya has commented that the BNP government has effectively pressed the “crisis button” following Bangladesh’s recent request to postpone its graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by three years. He said the United Nations will not make a final decision immediately, as the process is time-consuming.
Essential Food Items See Sharp Hike at Onset of Ramadan
The holy month of Ramadan has begun. Even before it started, the prices of broiler and Sonali chickens have increased in the capital’s markets. On Wednesday, it was seen in different markets of the capital that broiler chicken was being sold at 200 to 220 taka per kilogram. Sonali chicken was being sold at 320 to 350 taka per kilogram.
Bangladesh Must Purchase U.S. Agricultural Products Worth 42 Thousand Crore Taka Annually
Discussions have begun in the country regarding the recently signed reciprocal tariff-related trade agreement with the United States. Under the agreement, garments made from U.S. cotton will receive duty-free access to the U.S. market. At the same time, the reciprocal tariff imposed on Bangladesh has been reduced from 20 percent to 19 percent. However, in return, Bangladesh will have to purchase agricultural products worth 42 thousand crore taka annually. In other words, in the name of tariff concessions, a new pressure has actually been created on Bangladesh.
Bangladesh-US Tariff Pact Falls Short: Only 1% Reduction After Months of Talks
After nine months of continuous negotiations, the signing of the “reciprocal tariff agreement” between Bangladesh and the United States has drawn mixed reactions from trade analysts. The agreement, signed in Washington on Monday, has reduced reciprocal tariffs on Bangladeshi products by only 1 percent, bringing them down to 19 percent a result many believe falls far short of expectations given the length and intensity of the discussions.
Sixth Consecutive Monthly Decline Recorded in Exports
Bangladesh’s export earnings continued their downward trend in January 2026, recording a decline for the sixth consecutive month and highlighting sustained pressure on the country’s external trade sector. Official data show that export earnings in January stood at around $4.41 billion, slightly lower than the earnings recorded in the same month of the previous year.
Uncertainty Grows Over Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation as UN Postpones Assessment Visit
A United Nations delegation was scheduled to visit Dhaka this month to review Bangladesh’s overall preparedness for graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) list and to present its assessment of the country’s position. At the same time, a schedule had been set to present an independent preparatory assessment report on LDC graduation on January 21. However, the delegation’s visit to Dhaka has been postponed for the time being even before the trip took place. No new date has yet been fixed.
Rising Inflation, Weak Business Climate Drag Bangladesh’s Economy: UN & World Bank
Bangladesh is facing the most severe inflation crisis in South Asia, according to the United Nations, while the World Bank has also lowered the country’s economic growth forecast for the fiscal year 2025–26 due to high inflation and a stagnant business environment.
Export growth in the country continues to decline and has entered negative territory
In the first half of the current fiscal year (July–December), the country’s export sector has faced negative growth. According to statistics published by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), exports worth USD 23.99 billion were made in the first six months of the 2025–26 fiscal year, compared to USD 24.53 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year. As a result, exports declined by 2.19 percent.
Market Capitalization Falls by Tk 21,231 Crore in One Year
In 2025, among the top 10 companies by market capitalization, the capitalization of seven companies declined, while that of three increased. During this period, the overall market capitalization of the country’s capital market increased by Tk 5,339 crore.