According to the recent Bangladesh Market Monitor Report published by the World Food Program (WFP) on February 16, the inflation trend showed new hope at the beginning of 2025.
“Its downward trend continued in January, marking a return to a single-digit rate after three months,” WFP added.
They said general inflation declined to 9.94 percent from 10.9 percent in the previous month, mainly due to lower food prices.
Food inflation, a persistent pressure point, eased to 10.72 percent, down by about 2.2 percentage points from the previous month due to an increased supply of essential commodities.
Usually, the price of fresh seasonal vegetables reduces during the winter season.
Notably, food inflation has remained above the 10 percent threshold for the tenth consecutive month since April 2024, intensifying financial hardships for households nationwide.
Non-food inflation slightly increased to 9.3 percent in January 2025.
Both rural and urban areas experienced noteworthy falls in food inflation from the previous month, with rural food inflation dropping to 10.61 percent and urban food inflation reaching 10.95 percent in January.
The decline in food inflation is due to seasonal effects, WFP mentioned.
However, due to the upcoming Ramadan and the government’s decision to raise the value-added tax (VAT) on certain products, food inflation may rise in the coming months.
The January 2025 year-on-year general and non-food inflations were close to stable, while food inflation was 1.2 percentage points higher compared to the same period last year.
WFP reported that the country’s gross foreign exchange reserves fell again in January 2024 after a significant rise in the previous month. This was driven by import bills and foreign debt repayments, as well as reduced remittance inflows this month.
The reserves reached USD 25.2 billion, reflecting a 4 percent fall month-on-month.
The official exchange rate increased in January to BDT 122 after being stable at BDT 120 for the last three months (selling rates). Remittance inflow also dropped this month to USD 2.19 after reaching a record high of USD 2.64 billion in December 2024.
However, remittance inflows increased by 3.4 percent year-on-year, and the country received more than USD 2 billion in remittances for six consecutive months.
According to the banks, expatriates have been sending relatively higher remittances through formal banking channels during the last five months, encouraged by a rise in the official dollar rate and a decline in money laundering.
He said China and India are progressing fast, and Bangladesh has the potential to advance along with the two neighbors.
Noting that Bangladesh can utilize its marine potential, it will grow quickly economically; the chief adviser said, “There is a huge scope to generate hydropower in the Himalayas, and Nepal is keen to export its hydroelectricity, and we are ready to buy it.”
Indian territory is not allowed to import power from Nepal, but “we hope that they will allow us to use their land for their economic benefit—for the welfare of all.”
Prof. Yunus observed that if Bangladesh can use Indian land more broadly, no one will be able to halt its progress. “Bangladesh is a fortunate nation due to its location,” he added.
He said the Bangladesh economy would advance fast if marine ports could be established on the Bangladesh coastline—from Cumilla to Teknaf—in a row and a deep seaport in Matarbari.
“If we can allow the ships of the whole world to use these ports, who will halt us?” the chief adviser questioned. He said there is an economic zone in South Asia, but the problem is that the zone has yet to be opened.
He said Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked countries, and the seven sisters of India have no seaports. If we could establish a new economic zone, all the neighboring countries would be able to explore immense trade potential.
“So, in the context of geographical location, we are lucky enough,” he added.
One-man Newsroom 
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