B Mirror Report: Bangladesh’s economy expanded by 3.49 per cent in the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), marking a slowdown from the previous year, according to final estimates released on Thursday by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The economy had recorded a stronger growth of 4.22 per cent in FY24, while the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate stood at 5.78 per cent in FY23, the BBS data showed.

GDP represents the total value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a specific period and is widely used as a key indicator of economic performance.

Alongside the growth figures, the BBS published the final national accounts for FY25, revealing that the country’s per capita income reached US$2,769 during the period. This marks an increase of $31 compared to FY24, when per capita income was recorded at US$2,738.

However, per capita income remains below the peak of US$2,793 achieved in FY22. After that fiscal year, income levels in dollar terms declined mainly due to exchange rate fluctuations. The figure fell to US$2,749 in FY23 and further to US$2,738 in FY24 before registering a modest recovery in FY25.

According to BBS calculations, changes in per capita income in US dollar terms largely reflect movements in the exchange rate. For FY25, the average exchange rate was estimated at Tk 120.82 per dollar, compared to Tk 111.06 per dollar used in FY24 calculations.

In local currency terms, per capita income rose significantly. It stood at Tk 3,34,511 in FY25, up from Tk 3,04,102 in the previous fiscal year.

The latest data provide a comprehensive picture of Bangladesh’s economic performance in FY25, highlighting moderate growth and a gradual recovery in per capita income amid currency adjustments.