Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has urged the newly elected BNP government to undertake a swift and priority-based economic reset, warning that a persistent foreign direct investment slump, mounting stress in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, energy uncertainty and port management bottlenecks are weighing heavily on recovery.
In a statement on Tuesday, the chamber also congratulated BNP for securing a landslide victory in the 13th National Polls held on 12 February and for forming the new government.
Describing the election as much-anticipated, it said the polls enabled citizens to elect their chosen representatives who are expected to help transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and democratic nation through capable leadership.
However, amid global geopolitical uncertainties, particularly reciprocal tariff measures imposed by the United States, domestic economic activities have been “significantly disrupted”, the chamber said, stressing that effective and priority-based measures are now required for quick economic recovery along with their swift implementation.
Bangladesh has not achieved notable progress in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) over a prolonged period, while export-oriented sectors have also failed to register meaningful gains.
The SME sector has been “the most adversely affected”, leading to reduced employment opportunities at the marginal level and disruptions across the overall manufacturing ecosystem, leaving many entrepreneurs struggling to continue business operations.
A recent unexpected deterioration in law and order has further discouraged both local and foreign investors from making fresh investments, the chamber said.
Coordination gaps in port operations and management, disruptions in implementing National Board of Revenue reform initiatives, uncertainty in energy supply to industries, high interest rates, contractionary monetary policy, prolonged loan processing procedures and inadequate policy support are compounding the pressure on the private sector.
“There is no alternative to the role of elected representatives” in addressing these challenges and taking effective measures to overcome them promptly, the chamber said.
To keep the national economy vibrant and resilient, existing constraints in the country’s industrial and commercial sectors must be removed without delay, it added.
DCCI also expressed its willingness to work closely with the government for the better economic development of the country.
