In the past, political promises in Bangladesh were just paper. Parties often forgot them after the vote. This 13th election is different. The economy is finally the main topic.
How does the BNP plan for economic growth in its manifesto?
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party wants to make Bangladesh a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2034. To do this, the economy must grow by 9 percent every year. They also want to increase foreign investment to 2.5 percent of the total economy. Another goal is to raise tax collection to 15 percent by 2035. They also plan to give “Family Cards” with monthly cash to 4 crore poor families.
How does Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami plan for economic growth in its manifesto?
Jamaat aims for a two-trillion-dollar economy by 2040. This would require a very high growth rate of 10 percent each year. They want foreign investment to reach $15 billion within five years. They also plan to increase tax collection to 14 percent. Their manifesto focus includes tripling health spending and raising education spending to 6 percent of the economy.
Why is the economy important for a party manifesto?
In the past, manifestos were just formalities in Bangladesh. Now, for the 13th parliamentary election, parties are working harder to make them appealing. A manifesto shows a party’s economic pledges and how they plan to manage the country. It becomes a tool to gain public trust by showing a clear vision for the future.
What does economic growth mean for a voter?
For a voter, economic growth promises a better life. It can mean more jobs and better schools and hospitals. It also means the government has more money to help poor families. However, if the promises are not realistic, voters may lose trust in the party.
Is a plan for economic revival important for Bangladesh?
Yes, it is very important. The country faces many challenges like low private investment and low tax collection. Bangladesh will also lose special trade benefits in late 2026. Experts say a good plan must be realistic and include deep reforms in governance to work.
How has FDI been over the years, and what are the party targets?
Historical Trends: In recent years, foreign investment in Bangladesh has been declining.
- In 2021, FDI was $1.72 billion.
- In 2022, it dropped to $1.60 billion.
- In 2023, it fell again to $1.48 billion.
- By the 2025 fiscal year, it was approximately $1.69 billion.
Party Targets:
- BNP: They want to raise FDI to 2.5 percent of the total economy (GDP). To reach this, Bangladesh would need about $25 billion every year. This means FDI must grow by 35 percent every year for nine years.
- BJI: They want to reach $15 billion in FDI within five years. To do this, FDI would have to grow by 55 percent every year.
Is it possible to make these targets real?
According to the sources, reaching these targets will be very difficult. Here is why:
- Huge Growth Needed: The growth rates required (35% to 55% per year) are extremely high compared to the current trend of decline.
- Major Barriers: For these goals to become real, the government must fix many problems. They need better infrastructure, policy certainty, and transparent governance.
- Investor Confidence: Currently, private investment is falling. Without deep reforms to gain the trust of investors, these large amounts of money are unlikely to arrive.
- Lack of Specific Plans: Experts note that while the targets are big, the manifestos often lack clear, step-by-step financial plans to achieve them.
In short, while the parties have set high goals, experts believe they are disconnected from the current reality of the economy.
Every political party promises to grow the economy, but none of them ever keep their promises, do they? This marks the 13th national election.
Over the past 12 national elections, every party has pledged economic growth, haven’t they? Did they actually deliver? For the sake of argument, let’s assume the last three general elections were controversial but what about the other nine?
Now, we can only hope that whichever party wins will honor their commitments.
That’s the only way to keep our optimism alive, isn’t it?
– Opinion | Daily ScrollDown
*BNP – Bangladesh Nationalist Party
*BJI – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Source: CPD, BNP manifesto, BJIP manifesto