Bangladesh Forecasts Strongest Growth Since 1980 as Unrest Eases

Bangladesh forecast its economy will grow at the fastest pace in at least 34 years after the International Monetary Fund made further loan payouts citing greater calm following this year’s elections.

Gross domestic product will expand 7.3 percent in the fiscal year starting July 1, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said in his budget speech yesterday, compared with a revised 6.12 percent projection for this year. That would be the fastest pace in World Bank data going back to 1980 and the highest since Bangladesh was separated from Pakistan in 1971, according the Centre for Policy Dialogue, a Dhaka think tank.