Authors: Dr. Mohammad Shah Alam Chowdhury
Abstract: Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh has transformed from one of the poorest nations in the world famously mischaracterized as a "basket case" to one of the fastest-growing economies in South Asia. This paper examines the trajectory of Bangladesh's economic growth, driven primarily by a booming ready-made garment (RMG) industry, robust remittance inflows, and significant advancements in social development indicators such as female labor force participation. However, despite reaching lower-middle-income status in 2015, the nation currently faces severe macroeconomic headwinds. Elevated inflation, banking sector vulnerabilities, low tax revenue mobilization, and external shocks have slowed recent GDP growth. This paper analyzes the historical drivers of growth, structural bottlenecks, and the urgent policy reforms required to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic development.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20305441
