The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has said that Bangladesh’s economy deteriorated in 19 out of 31 major economic indicators during the first six months of the BNP government, while 12 indicators showed improvement.
The findings were presented on Monday (August 24) during a dialogue titled “Six Months of the Government: An Economic Review” by CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya.
According to CPD, inflation, per capita debt, private investment, and the industrial sector remain areas of serious concern. Private sector credit growth fell from 6% to 4.5% between February and June, reflecting weaker investment activity.
The report also states that 95 factories permanently shut down between January and August across the Gazipur, Savar-Ashulia, and Narayanganj-Narsingdi industrial belts, leaving 61,881 workers unemployed.
Dr Bhattacharya said imports are declining because investment has slowed, which has contributed to an increase in foreign exchange reserves. He argued that rising reserves should not automatically be viewed as a sign of a healthy economy.
In CPD’s overall assessment, public expectations for economic recovery and improved governance have not yet been met. The organization also urged the government to finalize a new public sector pay structure as soon as possible, warning that further delays could make the situation more complicated.