Dhaka, June 12 -- Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the government expects inflationary pressures to ease gradually through structural reforms aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, improving efficiency and strengthening supply chains.

"Inflation in Bangladesh is not a short-term phenomenon but the result of several years of accumulated pressures, compounded by global conflicts, rising import costs and weaknesses in the banking sector," he said today (Friday), while addressing a post-budget press conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

The finance minister, who presented his first budget yesterday, noted that inflation has remained above 9 percent for the past three years. External factors, including co...