United News of Bangladesh

The escalating military tensions in the Middle East centered around Iran, Israel, and the United States have sent shockwaves through the Bangladeshi economy, sparking a sharp rise in energy costs and leaving thousands of tons of export goods stranded. As the conflict threatens the vital Strait of Hormuz, economists and business leaders warn of a multi-dimensional crisis involving fuel shortages, record-high shipping costs, and a potential spike in domestic inflation. President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mahmud Hasan Khan said that all entrepreneurs are concerned about export and import in the Middle East conflict. “We are talking with the government and foreign buyers on export shipment, along with watching the situation,” he said. The same opinion was echoed by the president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Muhammad Hatem, who said that export is also involved with import. So, both need a sustainable environment for smooth business. Any kind of disruption in export-import or energy supply uncertainty will affect business severely, he said. On Wednesday (March 4), global oil prices hit their highest levels since early 2025. Brent crude rose to US $82.53 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to $75.37. For Bangladesh, which relies on the Middle East for nearly 90 percent of its fuel imports, the stakes are high. The Strait of Hormuz serves as the gateway for one-fifth of the world’s oil and significant LNG supplies. Any prolonged disruption here directly impacts Bangladesh’s power generation, transport costs, and foreign exchange reserves. Northern region farmers struggle as potato prices crash below production cost The conflict has created a logistical nightmare at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Chittagong Port. Major airlines from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE have suspended cargo operations from Dhaka. Over 1,200 tons of export goods, primarily Ready-Made Garments (RMG), are currently stuck at the airport. Shipping lines, including the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), have halted new bookings for Middle East-bound containers. Over 1,000 containers filled with frozen fish, processed food, and plastic goods are stranded across various ports. The "war premium" is already being felt in the kitchen market. Importers report that the cost of transporting palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia has jumped by $8-$10 per ton.  "The war’s duration is uncertain, but the impact is immediate," says Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at CPD. "While the initial hiccup is in logistics, the long-term threat is energy security. We must prepare an emergency roadmap for alternative sourcing,” he added. The conflict exposes several critical vulnerabilities for Bangladesh, such as supply chain rerouting. Vessels are being forced to take the Cape of Good Hope route, adding 5,000 kilometers to journeys, significantly increasing freight charges and delivery times. The textile industry faces delays in importing cotton from Western markets, while the plastic sector is struggling with blocked petrochemical shipments. Beyond trade, the safety and stability of the millions of Bangladeshi expatriates working in the Gulf remains a looming concern for the country’s remittance inflow. Restoring law & order, investors' confidence biggest challenge for Bangladesh business Business leaders and economists, including Dr. Selim Raihan of SANEM, are urging the government to engage in immediate tripartite consultations with researchers and traders. While the government maintains that there are several weeks of fuel and grain reserves, experts argue that "strategic stockpiling" and "source diversification" are no longer optional. If the tensions in the Persian Gulf do not subside quickly, Bangladesh may face a period of forced austerity and heightened economic volatility.

For more than five decades, residents of several villages in Palashi Union under Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat have been waiting for a simple yet crucial development—a paved road. The 3.6-kilometre road connecting Taluk Palashi, Malmali Bazar, Nityanand and Bawair Chora villages to the Union Parishad and the upazila headquarters has remained largely neglected for 54 years despite repeated assurances from political leaders. For the thousands of villagers who rely on the road, the broken path has become a daily obstacle affecting their access to schools, markets, hospitals and other essential services. The road runs past Palashi Government Primary School and serves as the only link between the villages and the main administrative centre. Yet the route remains a narrow, uneven dirt track that becomes nearly unusable during the rainy season, said locals. In the dry months, residents manage to travel on foot or by bicycle but during monsoon, heavy mud and water-filled potholes make the road extremely risky, they said Villagers say many people have been injured after slipping or falling while trying to cross the muddy stretch. The poor road condition also disrupts everyday social and family activities. Housewife Zarina Begum said even funeral processions face difficulties reaching the villages during the rainy season. “Sometimes wedding arrangements get delayed because guests cannot travel easily,” she said. “Once a pregnant woman died because the van carrying her to hospital overturned after hitting a pothole.” Farmers say the road’s condition also affects their livelihoods. Farmer Moksedul Islam, the cost of transporting agricultural produce to markets increases two to three times due to the poor road condition. “Even when we have a good harvest, much of the income is lost because transportation becomes expensive and difficult,” he said. Ambulances and fire service vehicles often fail to reach the villages during the monsoon, leaving residents vulnerable during emergencies. Fisherman Robiul Islam said the road has not seen any significant repair work for decades. “The last patchwork was done about 35 years ago. Since then, no proper maintenance or construction work has taken place,” he said. Retired school teacher Mazaharul Islam said several former lawmakers and ministers had pledged to develop the road, yet no visible progress followed. He added that even after the road was given an official identification number and surveys were conducted by the Local Government Engineering Department, the long-awaited construction work did not begin. For expatriate residents originally from the area, the continued neglect is particularly disappointing. Aminur Rahman, who now lives abroad, said the union has made significant progress in education, fisheries and agriculture, but the road connecting these villages remains unchanged. “It is frustrating to see such a small but important road still neglected after so many years,” he said. Aditmari Upazila Engineer Fazlul Haq said the road is an important route that should have been paved long ago. He said a proposal has already been submitted to the ministry and the project will begin once funding is approved.

A sharp fall in potato prices at the start of the harvesting season has plunged farmers in the northern region into deep uncertainty, with many forced to sell their produce at rates lower than production costs. Growers say the situation has left them counting losses instead of profits as market prices fail to cover rising expenses for seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, labour and transportation. In Rangpur City Market on Sunday, potatoes were retailing at Tk 10–12 per kilogram while production costs range between Tk 14 and Tk 22 per kilogram. Farmers claim they are incurring losses of Tk 2–3 per kg on average, with wholesale prices hovering at Tk 15–17 per kg. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh produced 1.15 crore tonnes of potatoes in the 2024–25 fiscal year, of which 87 lakh tonnes came from Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. The production target for the current season stands at around 84 lakh tonnes. Farmers in major potato-producing districts such as Rajshahi, Bogura, Rangpur and Pabna said input costs have surged compared to last year, pushing overall production expenses to Tk 18–22 per kg. Sujan Rahman, a farmer from Gangachara upazila in Rangpur, said he cultivated potatoes this season hoping to offset last year’s losses. “But the market price is so low that I cannot even recover my costs,” he lamented. Mizanur Rahman of Kaunia upazila said early-season planting is usually aimed at securing better prices. “However, unsold potatoes from last year are still in the market, reducing demand for new crops,” he said. In Lalmonirhat’s Kaliganj upazila, Hasim Mia cultivated Cardinal potatoes on 18 bighas of land at a cost of Tk 22 per kg. BGMEA thanks govt for releasing Tk 2,500 crore in export incentives “Now I can only sell them at Tk 15–18 per kg,” he said expressing frustration over mounting losses. Farmers attribute the price slump to leftover stock from the previous season, weak market management and a lack of adequate cold storage facilities. They also allege that syndicate dominance and excess production have compounded the crisis. Market insiders said traders are reluctant to procure potatoes in bulk due to limited export opportunities and high storage costs. As a result, supply continues to outpace demand, driving prices further down. Shahin Mia, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Marketing in Rangpur Division, said potato cultivation has slightly decreased compared to last year, which may help stabilise supply and prices later in the season. However, Sirajul Islam, additional director of the DAE in Rangpur, said cultivation this year exceeded the target by about 25,000 hectares, contributing to the oversupply. Agricultural experts warn that unless export markets are expanded and better market management ensured, potato growers will continue to suffer recurring losses. They urged the government to take urgent, farmer-friendly measures to protect the sector and safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of farming families dependent on potato cultivation in the north.

A government housing project in Narayanganj launched nearly a decade ago to ease accommodation shortages for public servants remains incomplete despite repeated deadline extensions. The project, titled “Construction of 672 Residential Flats in Eight 15-Storey Buildings for Government Officers and Employees at Aliganj, Narayanganj (2nd Revised)”, is being implemented by the Public Works Department (PWD) under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. Under the latest extension, the completion deadline has been pushed to June 2026. The original implementation period was set from January 2016 to June 2019. Project documents show that the timeline was first extended to June 2020, and subsequently to June 2021, June 2022 and June 2023 — all without cost escalation.  Under the second revised approval, the tenure was extended to June, 2025. The most recent decision has again deferred completion to June, 2026, still without any additional expenditure. The project is being developed on 11.65 acres of PWD land at Aliganj in Narayanganj Sadar upazila, around five kilometres from Jatrabari in Dhaka.  Of the total land, 5.70 acres comprise the area locally known as the Aliganj playground. The initial approved cost was Tk 398.16 crore. Following the first revision, the cost rose to Tk 402.43 crore, and under the second revision it increased marginally to Tk 404.04 crore. The project is fully financed by the government. Officials concerned said the latest extension was necessitated by delays in completing the 15-storey buildings and associated works, including internal sanitation and water supply systems, gas connections and electrical installations. Once completed, the project is expected to provide 672 modern flats for government officers and employees.  Authorities say the initiative aims to address housing shortages, ensure proper utilisation of government land and enhance public service delivery by improving living facilities for public servants. Earlier, the then planning minister had assured that the project would be completed by June 2019. The construction has not been without controversy.  The buildings are being erected on land widely known as the Aliganj playground.  At the initial stage, local residents — including freedom fighters, sports organisers and youth groups — staged protests, formed human chains and submitted a mass petition to the district administration seeking cancellation of the project.  Despite the opposition, construction work continued.

For the past 17 years, residents of Bhitorband union in Nageshwari upazila have been crossing Duburir canal on a fragile wooden plank structure — a risky substitute for a bridge that collapsed in 2008 and has yet to be rebuilt. Once the bridge on the Jamtalapara–Kachuarpaar–Madaikhal connecting road served as a vital link for thousands of people in the area.  Now it stands as a reminder of stalled development and unfulfilled promises. In the absence of government intervention, villagers — with support from local public representatives — installed a temporary wooden platform over the damaged structure to keep communication between the two sides alive.  But time and weather have taken their toll. The makeshift crossing has grown increasingly unstable, swaying under the weight of pedestrians and turning dangerously slippery during rains and floods.  Locals fear that a serious accident could happen at any moment. Locals said, two bridges were built at the same location with funds from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.  But due to limited budget allocations and alleged substandard construction both were washed away by strong currents within two to three years of completion. The last bridge, constructed in 2006, was completely destroyed in the devastating floods of 2008.  Since then, no effective initiative has been taken to rebuild a permanent structure. Hashem Ali, a local trader, said the bridge is now barely usable. “We have to take long detours to transport patients or pregnant women to hospital. Auto-rickshaws cannot pass through. We face severe problems carrying fertiliser, raw materials and harvested paddy,” he said.  

Known for its scenic landscape but constrained by poor road infrastructure, Sylhet division is poised for a major overhaul as the government moves ahead with a Tk 1,952 crore project to upgrade and widen crucial upazila and union roads. The project , titled “Widening and Strengthening of Important Upazila and Union Roads in Sylhet Division,” will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Local Government Division with full funding from the Government of Bangladesh. Scheduled for completion by June 2029, the project will cover all 41 upazilas in the division’s four districts, aiming to modernise rural connectivity, boost economic activity and support agricultural growth. Strengthening rural backbone Officials said the project seeks to develop a more durable and efficient rural road network by widening and strengthening existing upazila and union roads. Many of these roads currently lack sufficient width and structural capacity to handle increasing traffic, including heavy vehicles transporting goods to markets. The upgraded roads—constructed using bituminous concrete (BC) and reinforced cement concrete (RCC)—are expected to ensure smoother and safer movement of goods and passengers. A senior official at the Planning Commission described the initiative as a strategic investment in the rural economy. “Once implemented, the project will significantly improve transport infrastructure in Sylhet division. It will make it easier to market agricultural and non-agricultural products, increase economic activities and create employment opportunities,” the official said. The project includes construction of new bridges and reconstruction of old ones on upazila and union roads to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. Culverts will be built and rehabilitated to improve drainage and road durability while protective structures such as guide walls, CC blocks and toe walls will be installed to prevent erosion and structural damage. Intersection improvements, level crossing upgrades and necessary earthworks are also planned to ensure long-term sustainability of the network. Boost to agriculture, trade Sylhet, located in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh, has seen steady growth in agriculture, services and small-scale industries. Large volumes of tea, rice, fish and other agricultural products are transported via rural roads to regional highways and national markets. However, poor road conditions have often led to higher transport costs, longer travel times and reduced profitability for farmers and traders. Officials said improved road capacity and enhanced safety will enable faster, more efficient transportation, helping producers secure fairer prices and reduce post-harvest losses. The project is also expected to generate both short-term employment during construction and long-term economic benefits through expanded trade and investment. Supporting tourism growth Sylhet is one of the country’s leading tourism hubs, drawing visitors to destinations such as Jaflong, Ratargul Swamp Forest and Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar. With rising tourist arrivals, traffic on rural and upazila roads has increased substantially, placing additional pressure on existing infrastructure. The planned upgrades are expected to ensure smoother and safer travel for visitors while improving access to remote and previously less-connected areas—potentially opening up new tourism opportunities. A long-term regional impact Experts say the large-scale rural road investment could accelerate regional development by strengthening links between villages and urban centres, facilitating trade and improving access to education, healthcare and other essential services. British High Commissioner acknowledges Sylhet's 'special relationship' with UK As population density and economic activity continue to grow in Sylhet division, improved connectivity is seen as critical to sustaining development momentum. Once completed, the Tk 1,952 crore project is expected to significantly enhance rural mobility, stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods across the division—marking one of the largest rural road infrastructure investments in Sylhet in recent years.

A severe water crisis has gripped vast areas of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj where nearly 80 percent of tube wells have run dry amid prolonged drought and a sharp decline in groundwater levels. With more than 12,000 of the upazila’s approximately 18,000 tube wells no longer yielding water, over 100,000 residents in more than 300 villages are facing acute hardship in accessing safe drinking water, according to local sources and official data. The crisis spans in 13 unions including Bhatgaon, Kalaruka, Chharmahalla, Singchapair, Dolarbazar, Chaila-Afzalabad, Gobindaganj-Saidergaon, Uttar and Dakshin Khurma, Noarai, Islampur, Chhatak Sadar and Jaubazar. Officials say groundwater levels have fallen abnormally to depths between 200 and 300 feet, rendering most shallow and even some deep tube wells ineffective. Long Walks for Water With tube wells failing to produce water despite repeated pumping, women, children and elderly residents are being forced to walk several kilometres daily to collect water from distant sources. Many households have resorted to boiling pond water for drinking and cooking. Health workers said reliance on untreated surface water has led to a rise in diarrhoea, fever and skin diseases in the affected communities. Junaed Ahmed of Multanpur village in Jaubazar union said that 15 years ago water could be found at a depth of 500 feet but now even drilling to 700 feet does not guarantee supply. “Even after pumping several times a day, no water comes out,” he said. In Gilachhara village of Uttar Khurma union, Arjad Ali described the situation as desperate. “We are surviving by boiling pond water. There is no other option,” he said. Schools Also Affected The crisis has also disrupted educational institutions. A head teacher of a local school said that for nearly a month none of the school’s tube wells has been functional. “We are compelled to boil pond water for limited use,” he said. Environmental Degradation Blamed Residents alleged that years of canal encroachment, filling up of ponds, destruction of natural water bodies in haor and beel areas, and reduced river flow have contributed to the rapid depletion of groundwater. They also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the allocation of government deep tube wells. In some cases, tube wells meant for public use were allegedly installed on privately owned land, limiting access for the wider community. Shimul bloom draws thousands to Sunamganj; exposes infrastructure strain Md Ishaq Ali, sub-assistant engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering, said groundwater levels have dropped far below normal. “Earlier, water was available at 400 feet. Now even at 700 feet it is uncertain. Installation of new deep tube wells is underway under government initiatives,” he said. Chhatak Upazila Nirbahi Officer Diplomacy Chakma said the administration is reviewing the situation and will take necessary measures to address the crisis. Locals said the situation may worsen unless urgent steps are taken to restore water sources and ensure sustainable groundwater management in the haor belt.  

With the Eid-ul-Fitr approaching fast, concerns are growing over possible travel disruptions at Paturia ferry and launch terminals, the main gateway to the country’s southwestern region covering 21 districts, as those damaged during last year’s monsoon remain unrepaired. The Paturia ferry terminal on the Padma River was badly damaged by strong currents during the last monsoon but repairs are yet to be completed, while several pontoons are now in a dilapidated state. The situation at the launch terminal is similarly worrying, locals said. After the only launch terminal was washed away by the river around six months ago, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority set up a temporary pontoon beside the No. 2 ferry terminal to keep launch services running. Launch operators and passengers fear extreme hardship if passenger pressure increases ahead of Eid. Visiting Paturia terminal the correspondent found that of the five ferry ghats, ferries are operating only through the No. 3 and No. 5 terminals. The No. 4 ghat is completely closed and under repair while the No. 2 ghat has become unusable as ferries cannot dock there. Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said that during normal times, an average of 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles, including buses, trucks, private cars, microbuses, motorcycles and pickup vans, cross the Paturia–Daulatdia route daily. During Eid, the number rises sharply to around 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles a day, prompting authorities to increase ferry services. BIWTC Aricha sector Deputy General Manager Abdus Salam said all five terminals were damaged by strong monsoon currents last August, of which three have since been repaired. Repair work at the No. 4 ghat is ongoing but he acknowledged that the shortage of functional ferry terminals creates problems during ferry loading and unloading. Local drivers and passengers said the approach roads to the terminals are riddled with potholes, making it difficult for vehicles to board and disembark from ferries. They said unless urgent repairs are carried out, long traffic tailbacks could form during Eid, forcing people to wait for hours to cross the river. Hundreds of passengers use the lunch terminal daily, with numbers multiplying ahead of Eid. The original terminal was washed away by strong currents on August 5 last year, forcing authorities to operate services from a temporary pontoon beside the No. 2 ferry ghat. Passengers said the steep approach road from the terminal building to the pontoon makes boarding and disembarking hazardous and uncomfortable. BIWTA Executive Engineer Rabiul Islam said adequate repairs could not be carried out due to budget constraints. He, however, said work has already begun to make the No. 4 ferry ghat operational including repairs to the pontoon and approach road. Rabiul expressed hope that it would be reopened within a week. He also said work would be carried out on the launch terminal’s approach road, adding that all terminals are expected to be fully operational just before Eid. 15 dead after passenger ferry capsizes on Nile River in Sudan Manikganj Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana said relevant agencies, including BIWTC, BIWTA, the Roads and Highways Department, police and terminal authorities, have been instructed to take necessary measures to ensure smooth and safe ferry and launch crossings for Eid-bound passengers. She hoped that travellers would not face major difficulties during the holiday rush.

The once-turbulent Dharla and Baromasia rivers in northern Bangladesh have quietened, leaving behind scores of new river islands, or ‘chars,’ now turning green with crops. The transformation has opened new opportunities for farmers but has sent ripples of concern through the local fishing community. Over the past decade, climate change and sediment buildup have reduced the rivers’ navigability, exposing nearly 250 hectares of new char land in the floodplains. Farmers in Phulbari Upazila, Kurigram district, are now growing boro rice, maize, tobacco, peanuts and other crops on these fertile riverbeds, creating a striking green landscape. With water levels low, locals can now walk across stretches of river that were once navigable only by boat. Farming on these chars has been ongoing for the past 10 to 15 years, yielding good harvests annually. Altaf Hossain and Mojibur Rahman, farmers from the Sonaikazi area along the Dharla river, recalled the river’s destructive past. This river once swallowed our homes and farmland, leaving countless people destitute, they said. “Now it has dried up, and we are cultivating boro rice on the exposed riverbeds,” Altaf Hossain said, adding, “We expect to produce 25 to 28 maunds of rice per bigha this year. But rising production costs and fluctuating market prices pose a risk of loss.” Local UP member Mozsed Ali said that farmers have long cultivated boro rice and maize on the Dharla char lands and remain optimistic about another good harvest. Farmers along the Baromasia River, including Amzad Hossain, Rashid Mia, Chan Mia and Abdul Majid, said they have brought four to five bighas of land under maize cultivation. They are hopeful for a bumper crop and favourable market prices, citing good weather conditions. Yet, as farmers rejoice, fishermen face increasing hardship. Communities once reliant on the Dharla and surrounding rivers for fish such as boal, katla, rui, tengra and vetki are struggling. Reduced water flow and declining river depth have made these species increasingly scarce. Nilufa Yasmin, Phulbari Upazila Agriculture Officer, said the target for boro cultivation this season was 10,205 hectares, of which 10,050 hectares have already been achieved. Twelve hectares of boro rice have been planted in the catchment areas of the Dharla–Baromasia and Neelkamal rivers, she said. Kurigram looks to new government for solutions to river erosion, jobs crisis  

Restoring law and order and rebuilding investor confidence remain the most pressing challenges for Bangladesh’s business sector, as the BNP-led government seeks to steer the economy out of a prolonged slowdown, business leaders and economists said. They stressed that sustained stability and clear policy direction will be essential to revive investment and fasten the economic recovery. During the 18-month tenure of the interim government following the 2024 mass uprising, they said, the country’s business sector experienced a severe slump. Although some political stability has returned after the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12, the sector has yet to show signs of meaningful recovery. BGMEA pushes for quick release of Tk 5,700cr RMG incentives According to the business leaders, regaining the confidence of entrepreneurs—many of whom have lost trust in the system—and sustaining improvements in law and order will be critical for economic revival. President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) Taskeen Ahmed said curbing extortion must be the government’s top priority to restore business confidence. “To ensure a stable business environment, extortion has to stop first. Corruption and bureaucratic complexities in government offices must also be addressed,” he said. Taskeen pointed out that even after the fall of the Awami League government, businesses have continued to face extortion at similar or, in some cases, higher rates. “Factories still have to pay extortion money for trucks entering and leaving premises. For the current government, stopping extortion is the biggest challenge. If this is resolved, businesses will regain some relief,” he said. While extortion remains a major concern for local entrepreneurs, large-scale investors are equally worried about corruption and administrative bottlenecks in government offices. The business leaders fear that without institutional reforms, foreign and large domestic investors will remain hesitant to commit long-term investments in Bangladesh. President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Showkat Aziz Russell said the country is passing through a critical period. “No entrepreneur feels confident about making long-term investments in Bangladesh at this moment. The government’s first task is to restore that confidence,” he said, stressing the need to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and the culture of 'passing the pillow' within ministries. The ready-made garment (RMG) sector, the backbone of the country’s exports, is also under significant strain. More than 400 garment factories reportedly shut down during the interim government’s tenure. Many factories are struggling to pay wages and festival bonuses ahead of Eid and have sought financial support from the central bank. In a letter to Bangladesh Bank, Acting President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Inamul Haq Khan cited geopolitical shifts, global recessionary pressures and tariff wars as key reasons behind declining export earnings. He said export income fell by 2.43 percent in the first six months of the current fiscal year, while back-to-back letters of credit (LCs) dropped by 12.90 percent in November 2025. Lower unit prices of garments, deferred shipments and postponed orders have further disrupted production. Factories are also struggling with rising operational costs, including wages, utility bills, transport expenses and bank interest payments. Production capacity is gradually shrinking amid sluggish export activities. Meanwhile, a recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) noted that Bangladesh’s economic stability largely depends on political stability. It said the BNP government faces strong short-term pressure to accelerate growth, curb inflation, raise foreign exchange reserves, attract foreign direct investment and enhance trade connectivity. The report also observed that state-owned enterprises and the banking sector remain structurally weak. Echoing similar concerns, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) stressed the need for fundamental shifts in economic policy. CPD Additional Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan identified three major challenges: weak macroeconomic stability, fragile private sector investment and employment conditions, and limited fiscal space for the government. Economists have advised the government to adopt prudent fiscal measures, gradually depreciate the currency, reduce incentives for remittance and export sectors, and revise the current budget realistically to better prepare for the next fiscal year. Business leaders said without decisive reforms in governance, economic management and institutional efficiency, restoring momentum in Bangladesh’s business and investment climate will remain an uphill task.