BD's incoming govt takes office with economy at crossroads

As Bangladesh prepares for the formation of a new government following the 13th national election, expectations are running high among depositors, investors and job seekers seeking relief from prolonged financial strain, reports UNB.
The BNP-led alliance is set to assume office amid mounting economic pressures, with questions swirling over who will take charge of the finance ministry and what policy direction the new administration will adopt to tackle banking fragility, stubborn inflation and sluggish job creation.
For Abdul Hamid, a retired government employee, said the stakes are deeply personal.
He has been unable to recover Tk 24 lakh that he placed as a fixed deposit in a private bank.
"I expected the new government that they will return my Tk 24 lakh, which was fixed and deposited in a private bank. But the bank fails to pay me the principal amount and benefits," Hamid told UNB.
He said many depositors in several private sector banks face similar hardship, with institutions unable to repay funds, leaving families struggling due to a lack of liquidity.
Stock market investors are also looking for signs of a turnaround. Golam Azad, 45, invested around Tk 35 lakh in 2007 after being encouraged by a friend to seek higher returns.
He suffered losses during the stock market scams of 2010 and 2011 and has since waited for a sustained recovery.
Azad said he hopes the incoming democratic government will take meaningful steps to support market stability and protect investors.
Young graduates represent another anxious constituency.
Washim Habib, who completed his degree at a public university in 2021, has sat for the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) and other government recruitment examinations but remains unemployed.
Habib said he is seeking employment in either the public or private sector, noting that his elderly parents can no longer continue to support his expenses.
He expressed hope that the new democratic government will create opportunities to help him secure suitable work.
Finance Adviser Flags Structural Challenges
Against this backdrop, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Finance Adviser to the interim administration, has issued a pointed warning about the scale of the economic challenges awaiting the next leadership.
Speaking to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat, he said the primary mission of the incoming government must be revitalising trade and industry while strengthening financial institutions to ensure long-term stability.
Job creation, he stressed, is central to restoring economic momentum.