The International Monetary Fund has projected that Bangladesh's gross domestic product growth may drop to 3.2% in the current fiscal year, representing a 1.1 percentage point reduction from its previous forecast. Earlier, the Asian Development Bank had projected a growth rate of 4%, while the World Bank estimated it at 3.4%.
In a challenge for low-income populations, daily commodity prices are not expected to decline soon. During the same period, average inflation could rise to 10.9%. This information was released on Tuesday at the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok, which run through October 18.
Against this economic backdrop, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury sought assistance from development partners, specifically the IMF and the World Bank. The minister held formal meetings with IMF security director Urjit Patel and World Bank managing director Anna Bjerde.
The latest World Economic Outlook report indicates that the global economy has maintained resilience, though sustaining it is becoming increasingly costly. Global growth is projected at 3.1% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, constrained by soaring energy and food prices driven by Middle East conflicts, while artificial intelligence investments help offset losses.
Global inflation is expected to reach 4.7% in 2026 before easing to 4.1% in 2027. The IMF noted that key policy priorities include restoring public finance capacity, strengthening energy security, enhancing readiness for AI adoption, and maintaining open trade channels.
Why it matters
Lower GDP growth and rising inflation constrain national economic development and directly increase financial pressures on low-income citizens.