ADB further reduces Bangladesh's FY26 growth forecast to 4.7%

In April, ADB had projected a 5.1-per cent growth for the fiscal.

"The lower forecast reflects weaker-than-expected export performance and greater investment uncertainty due to the upcoming national elections in February," the ADB said in its report ‘Economic Forecast for Asia and the Pacific: December’.

Financial sector weaknesses also contributed to the downward revision, it noted.

Exports have been hit not only by subdued global demand, but also by supply disruptions caused by a major strike at Chattogram Port in October, which handles more than nine-tenths of the country’s imports and exports.

Exports grew only by 0.62 per cent in the July-November period of FY26 compared to 11.76 per cent during the corresponding period in the last fiscal, according to the Export Promotion Bureau.

Private sector credit growth slowed to 6.23 per cent in October from 6.29 per cent in September, marking the slowest pace in at least 20 years.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)