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Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized a press conference titled “Expectations from the new Government to address the Current Economic Situation” was held on 23 February 2026, at the DCCI Auditorium. Dhaka Chamber President Taskeen Ahmed highlighted various issues including the financial sector, energy, industrialization, tariff policy, logistics infrastructure, employment and skills development, LDC graduation and the signing of trade agreements with the United States.
DCCI President stated that due to the unchanged policy rate, businesses are being compelled to borrow from banks at interest rates of 16–17%. In addition, the high volume of Non-Performing Loans (NPL) and the reduction of the loan classification period from nine months to three months have created an undesirable situation in the financial sector which has led to instability in the industrial sector. He expressed that inadequate gas supply to industries, along with the recent increase in gas prices for new industries and captive power plants by Tk 40 and Tk 42 per unit respectively, has severely disrupted production. As a result, local demand and export targets are not being met, negatively affecting the overall trade environment. Moreover, the absence of policy continuity in industrial regulations, unstable law and order situation, particularly unbearable extortion, has eroded confidence in both local and foreign investment as well as business operations.
He also mentioned that due to the lack of automation in the country’s overall revenue management system, both individual taxpayers and businesses are often falling victim to unnecessary harassment while paying taxes. At the same time, many remain outside the tax net, depriving the government of due revenue and slowing the pace of revenue collection. Delays in land acquisition and high land prices, an average 41% increase in service charges imposed by the Chattogram Port Authority, and the ineffective utilization of inland waterways have significantly increased the cost of doing business. Besides, production and distribution costs have also increased, contributing substantially to inflationary pressure.
Regarding LDC graduation, he said that according to UNCTAD estimates, Bangladesh’s exports may decline by 5.5–7%, amounting to approximately USD 2.7 billion. Considering global economic instability and the current domestic economic conditions, such a significant negative impact on the export sector would be highly undesirable. In this context, he urged the government to take initiatives to defer Bangladesh’s LDC graduation by at least three years.
Referring to the recently signed agreement with the United States, Dhaka Chamber President stated that it would not ensure duty-free access for the ready-made garment sector. Moreover, conditions imposed on the import of LNG and other products may increase the cost of doing business. Therefore, he strongly urged the new government to renegotiate with the United States government to revise the terms and conditions of the agreement.
During the question-and-answer session with journos, DCCI President called upon the newly elected government to take effective measures to eliminate extortion and improve the overall law and order situation in the country. He further mentioned that more than 2 million educated youths in the country are unemployed and the lack of employment opportunities may push many towards illegal activities. To address this issue, he emphasized reducing youth dependency solely on jobs by enhancing skill development initiatives and simplifying the conditions for engaging in business activities. He also urged the relevant government agencies to ensure easier access to loans for young entrepreneurs, particularly to facilitate startup businesses under simplified terms.
Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury and Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman, along with members of the Board of Directors of DCCI, were also present on the occasion.
Published on: 2026-02-23