Highlights
- Bangladesh’s GDP growth projected at around 4.8% in the current fiscal year.
- Poverty rate rises to 21.2%, up from 20.5% in 2024.
- Labor force participation declines from 60.9% to 58.9%.
- About 3 million working-age people are outside the labor market, 24 lakh of them women.
- Total employment drops by 20 lakh, impacting the employment-to-population ratio.
Rising Poverty Amid Economic Challenges
According to the World Bank, despite lower inflation in Bangladesh, the poverty rate has increased to 21.2% in 2025, up from 20.5% in 2024. The overall economy is growing, with GDP projected at 4.8%, but the labor market is struggling.
Short-term Profit নয়, Long-term Growth-ই আসল।
Decline in Labor Force Participation
From 2023 to 2024, poverty increased and labor force participation fell from 60.9% to 58.9%. Among the 3 million newly out-of-labor-market working-age people, nearly 2.4 million are women.
The report highlights that female participation in the labor market has significantly declined, contributing to the overall drop in workforce involvement.
Read more: Bangladesh Declares 7 October Abrar Fahad Day and 25 February BDR Massacre Day as National Days
Employment Situation Worsens
Total employment has decreased by 20 lakh, leaving 69.1 million people employed. This drop has caused the employment-to-population ratio to fall by 2.1 percentage points, reaching 56.7%.
World Bank Update Event in Dhaka
The Bangladesh Development Update 2025 was released at the World Bank’s Dhaka office on Tuesday. Jean Peme, Division Director at World Bank Bangladesh, was present at the event, presenting the findings and emphasizing the need for targeted policies to address poverty and employment challenges.
Source: Daily Ittefaq
