Dhaka, March 3 -- Despite notable improvements in macroeconomic indicators in recent years, Bangladesh now faces an urgent challenge: creating sufficient jobs and stimulating economic growth. The slowdown in new investment, combined with the closure of existing factories, has left many workers unemployed and weakened industrial momentum. At the same time, gross domestic product (GDP) growth has declined significantly. Provisional estimates for FY25 suggest growth between 3.49 percent and 3.97 percent, marking the lowest rate since the pandemic and continuing a three-year downward trend. This signals not merely a temporary fluctuation, but a deeper structural concern.

In this context, the government must confront a critical strategic choi...