According to the Bangladesh Business Climate Index (BBX), the country’s business climate somewhat worsened in 2023 compared to the previous year, mostly as a result of slow regulatory reforms, inadequate infrastructure, and challenges obtaining financing.
Based on a 0-100 scale, the index decreased to 58.75 in 2023 from 61.95 in 2022, as per the BBX 2023-24 released by the Policy Exchange Bangladesh (PEB) and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). The BBX is currently in its third edition.
PEB Chairman M Masrur Reaz stated, “Significant reforms are required,” during a presentation of the findings at an event held at the MCCI Gulshan office in Dhaka. The survey was conducted among 520 small, medium and large enterprises.
The study took into account eleven important pillars, including launching a business, obtaining land, access to regulatory information, infrastructure, labour regulation, resolving disputes, facilitating trade, paying taxes, adopting technology, obtaining financing, and the environment.
Furthermore, even with solid legislation, enforcement is still an issue. He added that even in circumstances where the companies involved are similar, the same law is applied differently to each of them.
Dhaka and Chattogram are the two primary hubs of economic growth in Bangladesh. Reaz asserts, however, that the economic environment in Chattogram has deteriorated over the past three years and that the Government must take notice of this.
“If the business environment in the country’s commercial capital does not improve, Bangladesh will hardly be able to harness the benefits of businesses, trading activities will not operate well while investments will not pick up.”
He said there is a need to target field-level service delivery arrangements of regulators.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
