FHM HUMAYAN KABIR
In a major move to reshape the nation's economic landscape, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) vows to enhance the country's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2034 from the current weak trajectory.
The party will appoint "FDI Captains" to act as liaisons for private sector internal and external investors and establish a 24/7 help desk to boost the investments.
Currently, Bangladesh's FDI is nearly 0.45 per cent of the GDP which is hovering at about US$1.5 billion annually.
In the national election 2026 manifesto, the BNP has described their plans and strategies for upgrading the country's investment scenario from the present bleak state.
The party announced its manifesto on Friday in Dhaka placing the massive surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at the heart of its "Bangladesh First" policy.
This FDI enhancement target is part of the BNP's broader "31-point" state reform outline aimed at transforming Bangladesh into a $1.0 trillion economy by 2034.
Criticizing the current economic structure as "fragile and oligarchic", BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has proposed a transition from a consumption-based, debt-driven model to an investment-led growth strategy.
"Our goal is to democratize the economy," the manifesto states. "By dismantling barriers and ensuring transparency, we aim to make Bangladesh an irresistible destination for global capital."
To bridge the gap between 0.45 per cent and 2.5 per cent, the BNP has proposed 11 specific regulatory reforms designed to restore investor confidence.
Between 1972 and 2005, net FDI inflow in Bangladesh always remained less than 1.0 per cent of GDP, central bank data showed.
Between 2005 and 2015, Bangladesh saw a gradual but slight rise in the net FDI inflows with a peak of 1.74 per cent of GDP in 2013.
Nevertheless, ever since 2013, net FDI inflow as a share of GDP in Bangladesh has been on the decline. In 2021, FDI was only 0.41 per cent of the GDP of Bangladesh against 0.45 per cent of GDP last year.
The BNP manifesto said it would empower BIDA (Bangladesh Investment Development Authority) transforming the Authority into a highly effective, empowered body.
It wants to strengthen the "Single-Window" and facilitate the clearance implementing a fully digitized work flow to eliminate bureaucratic red tape and physical contact, reducing corruption.
It has pledged to build an automated profit repatriation system, investor protection laws, and modernized visa policies.
The manifesto identifies several high-potential sectors as primary targets for this new wave of investment including IT and hardware, renewable energy, blue economy, and pharmaceuticals & agro-processing sector.
Economists note that hitting the 2.5 per cent mark would require a radical overhaul of the country's ease-of-doing-business ranking.
While recent data from early 2026 showed a slight uptick in net FDI inflows, reaching the BNP's target would necessitate several billion dollars in additional annual investment compared to current levels.
The BNP also plans to establish an Economic Reform Commission and a National Trade Competitiveness Council to monitor these targets and ensure that fiscal and monetary policies remain stable and predictable for long-term investors.
