ADB lowers Bangladesh growth forecast to 3.9% 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised down its GDP growth forecast for Bangladesh to 3.9 percent for the current fiscal year 2024-25.

The ADB had earlier projected a 4.3 percent growth for FY25, reflecting a subdued outlook amid political uncertainty, supply disruptions and tight monetary policy.

It was disclosed at a press conference at the Dhaka office of ADB at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday.  The April edition of its Asian Development Outlook was presented there.

ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Hoe Yun Jeong made the opening and closing remarks as well as responded to the queries of the reporters. 

ADB Country Economist Chandan Sapkota made a power-point presentation.

The press conference cited persistent economic challenges but expected the economy to recover in the next fiscal year.
Political instability, natural hazards, factory disruptions due to worker protests, and high inflation weighed on demand and overall growth, it said.

Agricultural growth is likely to moderate following repeated floods, while industry growth is expected to improve marginally with a rebound in manufacturing aided by export growth, added the report.