Bangladesh’s economic growth fell further in the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 3.69%, according to final estimates released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Thursday.
The figure marks a continued slowdown from 4.22% growth in in the fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24), the weakest pace in five years, reflecting the combined impact of subdued industrial activity, persistent inflation, and external sector pressures that have constrained investment and export performance.
Bangladesh’s GDP growth has been decelerating for several years. The economy expanded 7.10% in in the fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22), slowing to 5.78% in in the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), 4.22% in FY24, and further to 3.69% in the latest fiscal year.
In the fourth quarter (April-June 2025), GDP grew 3.35% at constant prices, up from 2.14% in the same period a year earlier. Despite this modest improvement, overall growth across the four quarters remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Reviewing the report, economists say the data capture ongoing headwinds facing Bangladesh’s post-pandemic recovery, with inflation, reduced consumer purchasing power, and slower export orders weighing on growth momentum.
Quarterly estimates indicate weak momentum
As the country’s National Statistics Organisation, the BBS compiles and publishes Quarterly GDP (QGDP) estimates to align with international standards and provide real-time insights into short-term economic trends.
The initiative, launched in FY24, includes backcasting of data for fiscal years 2015-16 through 2022-23 to ensure consistency with officially approved annual GDP figures.
While annual GDP is calculated using both production and expenditure approaches, the quarterly estimates currently use only the production approach.
According to provisional data, GDP at current prices in Q4 FY25 stood at Tk 14.4 lakh crore, up from Tk 13.18 lakh crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.
Sectoral trends: Industry rebounds, services lag
Growth patterns across the three major sectors – agriculture, industry, and services – remained uneven in FY25, the BBS report shows.
Agriculture grew 3.01% in Q4 FY25, down from 4.11% a year earlier. Growth for the fiscal year ranged from 0.76% to 2.42%, reflecting weaker crop yields and adverse weather conditions.
Industry expanded 4.10% in Q4 FY25, rebounding from 1.08% in the same period of FY24. The sector picked up in the latter half of the year, driven by a recovery in manufacturing and construction.
Services grew 2.96% in Q4 FY25, compared with 3.61% a year earlier, as domestic demand and trade-related services remained subdued.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
