Jagaran Chakma

It was once beyond anyone's wildest imagination that Bangladesh would become a motorcycle manufacturing hub. Only seven years ago, the country relied on imports to meet 95 percent of its demand for motorbikes.

Grocery shelves are not clearing as quickly for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), while many are switching to mini-packs of food and toiletries -- indicating that people are losing ground in their prolonged battle against inflation.

Despite several interest rate hikes by the central bank to blunt the brutal price pressure, the Consumer Price Index has been hovering around 10 percent since March 2023.

In an effort to curb stubbornly high inflation, the central bank’s latest interest rate hike has sparked concerns among the business community as they argue that the increased cost of borrowing will strain their existing ventures and dampen future expansion plans.

Kihak Sung, chairman of Youngone Corporation and a pioneer in Bangladesh's readymade garments (RMG) and textile sectors, has been instrumental in the country's rise as a major global exporter.

Services rendered by government agencies through a single-window platform to facilitate business remain marred by unscrupulous activities, despite expectations of improvement among entrepreneurs under the interim government.

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) is considering utilising unused land to establish solar power parks at the Mirsharai Economic Zone in Chattogram, the largest industrial enclave in the country.

The demand for consumer electronics in the mid to high-end categories has declined drastically in Bangladesh as most people are shifting to cheaper alternatives or avoiding purchases altogether amid persistent inflation.

The head of DCCI has urged the government to map out its economic priorities once the committee to prepare a white paper on the economy, and other task forces on various reform agendas finish their jobs.

Corruption and policy inconsistencies have posed significant challenges to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh over the past 15 years, said Ashik Chowdhury, the first private-sector leader to head the government’s key investment promotion agencies.