Towfiqul Islam Khan
Additional Director, Research
E-mail: towfiq@cpd.org.bd
Towfiqul Islam Khan is an Economist. He is the Coordinator of CPD’s Independent Review of Bangladesh’s Development (IRBD) programme. He has undertaken research and published in a number of areas including macroeconomic policies, fiscal policy and fiscal transparency, governance, financing for development, inclusive development and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Khan is currently a member of the ‘SDG Working Team’ constituted under the Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Bangladesh. He is also a member of the ‘SDGs NGO Sub-Committee’ constituted under the NGO Affairs Bureau of Bangladesh. Khan received Australian Leadership Award (ALA) in 2008 to carry out his postgraduation academic degree at University of Melbourne, Australia. Khan also obtained his Masters and Bachelors in the area of Economics from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh.
Political alignment is key to a desirable future – Debapriya Bhattacharya, Towfiqul Islam Khan, Najeeba Mohammed Altaf
The four scenarios developed through our foresight analysis and subsequent validation meetings paint a vivid picture of how different combinations of political alignments and economic conditions might unfold in the coming years.
The plausible future facing the country – Debapriya Bhattacharya, Towfiqul Islam Khan and Najeeba Mohammed Altaf
Originally posted in The Daily Star on 22 July 2025 This is the second instalment of a three-part series based on a foresight analysis centred on Bangladesh’s transition, delving into the plausible future scenarios that may unfold over the next few months. “Hindsight is the best insight to foresight.” In the first part of this series, we […]
A unique approach to looking at the future – Debapriya Bhattacharya, Towfiqul Islam Khan and Najeeba Mohammed Altaf
The uprising in July-August 2024, sparked by the reinstatement of government job quotas amid dismal job prospects, ended a 15-year authoritarian regime.
A brief note on FY25 fiscal measures
In the national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), some changes proposed to provide relief to low & middle-income groups, and to impose higher rates of taxes to high income groups.
Fiscal framework of FY25 budget
The budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25) has been presented by the new Finance Minister of the newly elected government. This budget is also the last budget of the Eight Five Year Plan (8FYP) of Bangladesh.
Addressing three key challenges in Bangladesh economy – Debapriya Bhattacharya and Towfiqul Islam Khan
A complex economic situation – at both national and global levels- is now prevailing. Bangladesh is now going through one of the most difficult macroeconomic situations in recent decades.
A snapshot of macroeconomic correlates
The national budget for FY2024-25 (FY25) will be the first budget prepared by the incumbent government. It will also be prepared under new leadership at the Ministry of Finance.
Public finance faces mounting challenges
As a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the country’s major public finance correlates were lower than the previous year. According to data from the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the revenue-GDP ratio of 8.2 per cent in FY2023 fell short of the budgetary target of 9.8 per cent.
External sector vulnerabilities amid uncertainties
It was earlier, in May 2023, pointed out that a significant share of Bangladesh’s on-going macroeconomic challenges originated in the dismal performance of the external sector and the uncertainties faced by the external sector balance
Hope for a sound banking sector fading away fast
The banking sector in Bangladesh has encountered numerous challenges over an extended period. Its weaknesses have been consistently exposed through high loan default rates and subpar performance across various indicators.
