Fahmida Khatun

It is unfortunate that the previous government fell short of its commitments to strengthen the banking sector.

The problems are economic, social and political in nature.

Broadly, the policy measure to control inflation remains the same in the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) of the Bangladesh Bank for July-December 2024.

Broadly, the policy measure to control inflation remains the same in the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) of the Bangladesh Bank for July-December 2024.

The mismatch of export data raises a fundamental question about the precision of economic reporting and its ramifications for Bangladesh's economy.

The FY 2024-25 budget falls short of assessing the depth of the economically challenging time.

Mergers cannot be based on the arbitrary decisions of authorities. This amounts to an imposition of the liability of poor banks on well performing banks.

Due to lack of coordinated and coherent measures, inflation continues to rise, notwithstanding the abolition of the interest rate cap since July 2023.

The upcoming budget should adopt a balanced approach to address economic slowdown and inflationary pressure.

The reason for continued high consumer prices in the country despite prices dropping in the international market is a combination of policy and institutional failure.

The mounting debt servicing obligations also threaten to exacerbate the strain on the country’s low foreign exchange reserves.

It is especially important now as Bangladesh is set to graduate from its LDC status and become a developing country by 2026.

In light of the upcoming LDC graduation, exporters need to proactively prepare for changes.

The findings of the WEF’s latest Global Risks Report are quite relevant to Bangladesh

The year 2023 was indeed one of the most difficult ones in the recent history of Bangladesh in terms of economic performance.

Unless a holistic approach is taken, the sector will continue to fall short of international standards.

While many other countries have managed to reduce inflationary pressure by adopting monetary policy tools, Bangladeshi policymakers have shied away from doing the same.

Clearly, the major economic challenges facing Bangladesh are results of inadequate and incorrect policies.

Bangladesh’s interest in BRICS arises from various factors.

It may be considered a step towards Bangladesh’s attempt to diversify exports, attract foreign investment, sign free trade agreements, and ultimately enhance economic progress.