Bangladesh's economy grew by a tepid 1.81 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25, marking the slowest expansion in over three and a half years as political turmoil battered economic activity.  

The July-September quarter's performance was the weakest since the second quarter of FY21, when growth slumped to 0.26 percent, according to data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. By contrast, GDP grew 6.04 percent in the same period last year.  

The data underscores the fragility of Bangladesh's economic recovery amid political uncertainty and low business confidence. 

The downturn comes on the heels of widespread political unrest, culminating in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government in early August. The upheaval disrupted key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services, signalling the broad-based impact of the crisis.  

Agricultural output rose just 0.16 percent in the first quarter, down from 0.35 percent growth a year earlier.

The industrial sector, typically a driver of Bangladesh's economy, also faltered.

Factory output expanded by only 2.13 percent, a sharp decline from the robust 8.22 percent growth recorded in the first quarter of FY24.  

The services sector, which accounts for a significant share of the country's GDP, grew by 1.54 percent, compared to 5.07 percent a year earlier.