We need to get to pre-Covid level first

The 6.8% GDP growth projection is not realistic.

Since countries in the region are projected to see negative growth, there is no reason to expect that Bangladesh's economy would grow at such a high rate.

Our economy is recovering. That does not mean that we are growing. Recovery and resumption of growth are not the same.

Our economy shrank drastically during the lockdown period like all other economies of the world.

First, we have to come up to the ground level, that is, the economic activity level in the pre-Covid-19 period. Then comes the question of growth.

We are still quite a bit away from the point of growth.

I do not know of any sector (outside agriculture) that has already reached the pre-Covid-19 level. Even the RMG sector, which has performed quite impressively and been recovering satisfactorily during the six-month period since March, export receipts are still significantly below the corresponding period in the preceding year.

[Executive Director, Policy Research Institute (PRI)]