TDS Desk

Corruption remains the most significant barrier to doing business in Bangladesh, according to a recent survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

The survey, carried out during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, revealed that nearly 17% of businesses identified corruption as their primary challenge in 2024. Volatility in the exchange rate emerged as the second biggest hurdle, followed by inefficient government bureaucracy, inflation, and limited access to finance.

Other challenges highlighted in the survey, conducted between February and June this year, included inadequate infrastructure, poor public health services, crime and theft, and low work ethics in the labour force.

Presenting the findings at a dialogue held at the Brac Centre Inn in Dhaka on Sunday, Khondaker Golam Moazzem, CPD’s research director, noted the limited progress in improving the business environment during previous regimes. He observed that business activities remained heavily concentrated within a few dominant groups.

The event, organised by CPD to address business environment reforms in Bangladesh, also highlighted the lack of significant updates to policies, laws, institutions, and operational frameworks. According to Moazzem, this absence of reforms continues to hinder the development of a participatory and competitive business environment.