The next government – to be formed by the BNP following its landslide victory in Thursday’s national election – will take office amid mounting economic challenges, with inflation, banking vulnerabilities, declining revenue growth, and external pressures combining to test its early credibility.
Business leaders, market stakeholders and academics have welcomed the credible election, noting that a moderate political victory could bolster confidence both at home and abroad.
Yet they caution that translating this political optimism into sustainable economic recovery will require swift, decisive action, structural reforms, and measures to restore investor trust.
Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, told the media that the business community “feels largely relieved following the election.”
He added that a transparent electoral process will help rebuild Bangladesh’s international image and attract stronger economic engagement.
“The outcome carries significant global implications. Restoring confidence among international partners and investors is critically important at this juncture,” he said.
Chowdhury highlighted urgent priorities for the new administration: restoring law and order, curbing what he described as “mob culture,” and tackling corruption, extortion and illegal land occupation.
“Extortion and land grabbing must be stopped decisively to create a stable, business-friendly environment,” he stressed.
Former president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rizwan Rahman, underlined the importance of appointing skilled leadership in critical ministries, particularly finance, commerce and foreign affairs.
“Significant damage has been done to diplomacy. Ministries should not be led by individuals who merely understand politics but by those with expertise in policy and international relations,” he said.
Rizwan Rahman also warned that addressing financial sector vulnerabilities could take at least a year. He stressed the need to attract domestic investment, noting that foreign investment currently contributes just 1% of GDP, while domestic enterprises account for around 84%.
“The government can learn from past mistakes to improve investment strategy,” he added.
Saiful Islam, president of the DSE Brokers Association of Bangladesh, said that if the BNP honours its pre-election commitments, the capital market could see sustainable growth.
“The BNP has prior experience in developing the capital market and restoring investor confidence. We hope the coming period will be beneficial for the economy,” he said.
Prof Al-Amin of the University of Dhaka noted that the BNP manifesto includes “capital market–friendly” policies.
“Investors are already returning to the market based on these commitments. Failure to implement them could bring social pressure,” he warned, noting a pre-election upward trend in market activity.
The new government assumes office at a critical juncture, with both political legitimacy and market expectations placing pressure on its early policy decisions.
Courtesy: Daily Sun.
Bd-pratidin Englih/TR
