US EditionMired in economic trouble, Bangladesh pins hopes on election boost
Bangladesh's garment sector, making up 80% of exports, has seen 240 factory closures since 2024, while unemployment rose to 4.63%, officials said.
- With the vote on February 12 approaching, elections are seen as a chance for economic rebound, amid 18 months of turmoil since Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed.
- Factory closures accelerated after the August 2024 uprising, with 240 factories shutting and some assets sold as owners linked to Sheikh Hasina fled.
- Official data indicate rising joblessness with unemployment at 4.63 percent, up from 3.95 percent, and merchandise exports fell for a fifth month in January 2026, eroding household purchasing power.
- Many workers face layoffs and lost incomes as factory closures ripple through the economy, said Iqbal Hossain, highlighting vanishing local businesses.
- The IMF projects 4.7 percent growth this year, while US orders remained static, according to industry sources, despite some factory openings and closures.
41 Articles
41 Articles
Curtain Falls on Bangladesh’s Interim Government as Critical Elections Approach
On 12 February, Bangladeshis will vote in their country’s first national elections since student-led protests forced long-time ruler Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Thomas Kean lays out the stakes in these historic polls.
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Mired in economic trouble, Bangladesh pins hopes on election boost
Textile worker Sabina Khatun is in limbo after losing her job during sweeping factory closures, caught up like millions in Bangladesh in the fallout from a 2024 uprising that toppled years of autocratic rule.
Bangladesh, between the ditch and deep blue bay
On 12th February 2026 Bangladesh is gearing up for fresh general elections and a national constitutional referendum on the July Charter. The “Monsoon Uprising” forced elected Prime Minister now in exile Sheikh Hasina to depart and Peace Noble Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus to lead the county since 7th August 2024. Rise of the Right the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the biggest religious political party has made an alliance the students – ‘Na…
Overseas up, local down All eyes on election - The New Nation
Muhammad Ayub Ali : Domestic investment in Bangladesh remains sluggish, even as overseas investment by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs has risen sharply, and since the July movement, there has been little impact on domestic investment or job growth. Experts believe that once the national election is held, both domestic and foreign investment in Bangladesh could pick up, as a stable, elected government would provide a more predictable economic and poli…
Last Updated on January 31, 2026 11:37 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ Zakir Hussain, Dhaka With just two weeks left for Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary elections, political parties have ramped up door-to-door campaigning and large public rallies, but many major parties have yet to release their election manifestos. Candidates and senior leaders are addressing five to seven election rallies every day. The election campaign is generally going on in a…
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