As per the World Bank (WB), Bangladesh’s trade competitiveness is eroding and it’s primarily due to reasons such as delays faced by exporters while complying with border and documentary requirements, higher import taxes and non-tariff barriers, excessive dependence on readymade garments, etc.
This is as per media reports, which claimed the WB has further reportedly warned that Bangladesh’s competitiveness would narrow further after the country’s upcoming LDC graduation, scheduled to take place in 2026 even if trade has been a driving force behind Bangladesh’s economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.
The multilateral lender reportedly expressed its concerns to this end in a topic titled ‘Trade Reform in Bangladesh: An Urgent Agenda’ in the World Bank’s Bangladesh Development Update unveiled recently even as the WB attributed this decline in trade performance and an over-reliance on ready-made garment exports, raising concerns about the sustainability of the growth model.
Reports further added, Bangladesh’s trade performance has been on a downward trend since 2011, both in comparison to the country’s overall economic growth and historical performance.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
