Private investments in terms of the share of gross domestic product (GDP) slowed down over the last three fiscal years (FY) amid the fear about its impact on employment and money flow.
According to the official statistics, the share of private investments as calculated on the new base year (FY 2006) came down to 21.39 per cent in the fiscal year (FY) 2014 from 21.75 per cent in the FY '13.
The share of private investments started declining in the FY '12 and the downturn still continued, showed the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
Though the volume of investments was on the increase, its share in the GDP was declining as the required amount of private investment was not taking place, said a source with the BBS.
Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) former president Syed Ershad Ahmed said the inadequate private investments would leave a tangible impact on the economy in job creation and money flow.
He said the problems relating to availability of land and infrastructure development were increasing and the government was still not focusing their attention on restoring the healthy investment climate.
The former FICCI president suggested completion of the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane highway project on the priority basis by solving the related problems.
He also said officials should understand the importance of the highway in attracting local and foreign investments.
Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said: "The threat of ousting the present government and the question over the last national election are still a problem facing the investors."
The apex-chamber leader, however, wouldn't lose hope. He said things were changing and big countries like Japan, China and others were showing their interest in investing in Bangladesh. And by December next the situation might be overcome, he added.
He believed that if the government lasted next five years, the current decline in the share of private investment might reverse as investors were already starting regaining confidence.
The FBCCI president said: "We expected that private investment would increase at least by 17 per cent. But, in fact, it was only 12 per cent last year. And I have to say the investment scenario is not good."
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