DHAKA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's economy posted its slowest growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by just 3.49 percent in the 2024-2025 fiscal year (July 2024 to June 2025).
The final GDP figure, released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Thursday, is 0.48 percentage points lower than the provisional estimate at 3.97 percent.
Bangladesh's GDP at current prices stands at 456 billion U.S. dollars, up from 450 billion dollars in the previous fiscal year.
Sector-wise growth shows a decrease in agriculture and services, but a slight rise in industry sectors.
Bangladesh had earlier recorded GDP growth of 3.45 percent in the 2019-20 fiscal year when the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the country's economy.
Despite the GDP decline, Bangladesh's per capita gross national income has reached 2,769 dollars in the last fiscal year, up from an earlier projection of 2,738 dollars.
Bangladesh's economy is projected to grow at around 5 percent in 2026, balancing moderate expansion with persistent structural challenges, according to the Bangladeshi Planning Ministry's Economic Update & Outlook released last month.
The report said sustaining growth will require stronger governance, consistent policies, and increased investment in skills and technology to reduce the economy's over-reliance on the ready-made garment sector.
It emphasized that political stability, institutional reforms, and technological adoption are critical as Bangladesh approaches graduation from least developed country status and navigates a democratic transition. ■
