The latest World Bank forecast -- a GDP growth of 4.6% in FY26 which is below initial projections -- is nothing if not a sobering reminder that while we have shown resilience as a nation ever since our inception and indeed post the Monsoon Revolution of 2024, resilience alone is not enough. 

There’s no other way of saying that economically, the country is performing poorer than expected - a reality that should concern policymakers and citizens alike.

Our challenges are certainly undeniable, and this interim government has inherited what is essentially a fragmented and broken economy. Inflation remains stubbornly high, and we understand the need for tighter monetary policy - which has predictably restricted credit flows and slowed investment. 

We also have external risks, including trade tensions and counter-tariffs, along with a weakened financial sector - all of which have further complicated the outlook.

These are the realities and they explain the current slowdown. However, they cannot continue to hold us down, and we must also keep one eye firmly on our lagging growth. While the World Bank’s projection of a rebound to 6.1% in FY27 offers hope, hope alone cannot be a strategy and we need action.

There is an immediate need to address structural reforms -- improving governance, boosting investment, and diversifying exports, and there is hope that political stability after the upcoming elections is the catalyst that could provide the window for decisive action. 

However, the urgency must be now: Simply waiting for external conditions to improve or for inflation to ease on its own is something Bangladesh cannot afford.

Growth is not guaranteed, and projections can slip but as an economy, we must also act with foresight, balancing immediate stabilization with long-term reforms.