The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) successfully organised the CPD Lecture Series on the Bangladesh Economy 2025 on Saturday, 12 July and Saturday, 19 July 2025. The two-day event was held in a hybrid format, enabling participation both online and in person at the CPD Dialogue Room in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The lecture series brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students of economics from across the country and created a dynamic platform for engaging with pressing macroeconomic issues in Bangladesh through rigorous academic and policy-oriented discussions.
This year’s lecture series took place at a critical juncture in Bangladesh’s economic and political trajectory. Following the historic July Uprising, which represented a powerful youth-led call for more inclusive and accountable governance, there emerged a renewed interest in building a forward-looking economic model rooted in transparency, equity and evidence-based policymaking. In response to this transformative context, CPD launched the lecture series to equip emerging economists with the analytical tools and practical knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to national development and policy debates.
The event aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world economic policymaking by offering an immersive learning experience to students of economics. Over the course of two days, participants gained a deeper understanding of key issues shaping Bangladesh’s economy, including monetary policy, inflation management, fiscal policy, youth employment, and external sector performance. The sessions were designed to encourage critical thinking and foster dialogue among the country’s future economists.
On the first day of the lecture series, participants were welcomed with tea and coffee, followed by the inaugural session titled “Monetary Policy, Inflation, and the Financial Sector”. This session was conducted by Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of CPD and a Director of the Board of Bangladesh Bank. Dr Khatun shared insights on the state of Bangladesh’s banking sector, challenges in financial regulation, and the effectiveness of recent monetary policy responses to inflationary pressures. The afternoon session on the same day focused on fiscal policy and the national budget and was led by Mr Muntaseer Kamal, Research Fellow at CPD. He provided a detailed overview of budgetary trends, fiscal reforms, and the evolving challenges of public resource mobilisation and expenditure management.
The second day of the lecture series began with a session on labour market dynamics and youth employment. This session, led by Mr Syed Yusuf Saadat, Research Fellow at CPD, explored trends in labour force participation, informality, and skill mismatches, with a particular focus on the demographic dividend and the policy measures needed to harness its potential. The final session of the series, “Understanding Bangladesh’s External Sector”, was conducted by Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow at CPD. Professor Rahman discussed Bangladesh’s trade performance, the implications of foreign direct investment trends, and the growing concerns around external debt and macroeconomic stability.
Throughout the sessions, participants engaged actively with the speakers, asked thoughtful questions, and took part in interactive group work to develop policy responses to economic challenges. This created a collaborative environment for the exchange of thoughts and ideas, enhancing the overall learning experience. A total of 25 participants were selected for in-person attendance, while many others joined online from various parts of the country.
The lecture series concluded with a brief certificate distribution ceremony. The event successfully achieved its intended outcomes by enhancing the participants’ ability to connect economic theories with real-world data and policy contexts, strengthening their analytical thinking, and introducing them to applied research methods in economic policy. It also offered a valuable opportunity for students to build networks with peers and seasoned researchers working on some of Bangladesh’s most pressing economic issues.
Through this initiative, CPD reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the intellectual and professional development of the next generation of Bangladeshi economists and to fostering informed, youth-led participation in the country’s policy discourse. CPD extends its sincere gratitude to all participants for their enthusiasm and contributions.
