Bangladesh - Foreign Investment Discussion Thread

[Prince_]

We’ve witnessed yet another diabolical failure of the Yunus government in the recently concluded Investment Summit 2025. It managed to secure merely $150 million in investment from Honda Industries and another $110 million from a separate deal. That’s it.

In stark contrast, under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh attracted a staggering $3.48 billion in direct foreign investment during the 2023 summit. It clearly shows the stark gap in vision, diplomacy, and leadership capacity.

Yet, some gullible Bangladeshis on Facebook are acting as if this Ashik guy is the reincarnation of Lee Kuan Yew. I can understand Mr. Ashik’s mentality though, as a former salesperson, making unrealistic promises and deceiving others probably comes naturally to him.

He should achieve something of real significance before spewing nonsense about Hasina’s contributions to the Bangladeshi economy. He should’ve known, it was Hasina who single handedly transformed Bangladesh from a struggling developing nation into a rising tiger of Asia.

@BananaRepublic @uksyl @SoulSpokesman

 

[LeonBlack08]

We’ve witnessed yet another diabolical failure of the Yunus government in the recently concluded Investment Summit 2025. It managed to secure merely $150 million in investment from Honda Industries and another $110 million from a separate deal. That’s it.

In stark contrast, under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh attracted a staggering $3.48 billion in direct foreign investment during the 2023 summit. It clearly shows the stark gap in vision, diplomacy, and leadership capacity.

Yet, some gullible Bangladeshis on Facebook are acting as if this Ashik guy is the reincarnation of Lee Kuan Yew. I can understand Mr. Ashik’s mentality though, as a former salesperson, making unrealistic promises and deceiving others probably comes naturally to him.

He should achieve something of real significance before spewing nonsense about Hasina’s contributions to the Bangladeshi economy. He should’ve known, it was Hasina who single handedly transformed Bangladesh from a struggling developing nation into a rising tiger of Asia.

@BananaRepublic @uksyl @SoulSpokesman

How much of the 3.48 billion materialized? Do you have any statistic on that?

We heard of promises before, like the case of Samsung bringing in Billions but it did not materialize in the end because of the red tape and corruption.

The fact that we are in a position to bring investors to summit is in itself an achievement, after the country went through a bloody revolution.

 

[Prince_]

How much of the 3.48 billion materialized? Do you have any statistic on that?

We heard of promises before, like the case of Samsung bringing in Billions but it did not materialize in the end because of the red tape and corruption.

The fact that we are in a position to bring investors to summit is in itself an achievement, after the country went through a bloody revolution.

The realization period for such promised investments usually spans multiple years. The main success of Hasina's tenure, often referred to as the golden economic era in Bangladesh, was her ability to project a positive image of the country to investors through her vision, diplomacy, and leadership.

However, after the Hasina government was unjustly ousted just one year following the investment summit, it became the responsibility of the Yunus administration to maintain a peaceful, business friendly environment to ensure the realization of those promised investments.

But, as we've seen in the last 8 months, Mr. Yunus has failed miserably in this regard as Factory vandalism, arson, mob lynching, robbery have become a daily occurrence in his tenure, which I believe caused the investors to rethink their decision.

 

[uksyl]

German delegation explores investment opportunities in Bangladesh​

A delegation of German business stakeholders has wrapped up a five-day visit to Bangladesh, participating in the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 and engaging with various stakeholders in Dhaka and Chittagong. The group included representatives from the German Federal Government, business associations, and leading enterprises, as announced by the German Embassy in Dhaka.

During their visit, the delegates met with senior Government officials, took part in sectoral discussions at the Bangladesh Investment Summit, and toured key industrial sites. Notable visits included the German-Bangladeshi joint venture Hana System Ltd in Gazipur, the WALTON Group, and logistics and ship recycling operations in Chittagong. They also explored German-affiliated factories and infrastructure projects, gaining insight into Bangladesh’s evolving investment landscape.

Almut Roessner, Executive Board Member of OAV-German Asia-Pacific Business Delegation, expressed that the participants were highly impressed by the diverse business opportunities available in various manufacturing sectors beyond textiles. “For Bangladeshi firms looking to expand production to meet increasing local and international demand, German suppliers of specialized machinery and automation technology present highly attractive partnerships,” Roessner noted. He emphasised that discussions with representatives of the interim Government revealed a strong commitment to a lasting reform agenda aimed at attracting a wider range of investments to the country.

The delegation was organised in collaboration with OAV – the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, which supports bilateral business cooperation and enhances Germany’s presence in emerging Asian markets.

Germany recognises Bangladesh as a strategic partner in trade, investment, and sustainable development. With total bilateral trade valued at US $ 9.81 billion in 2024, this visit underscores Germany’s confidence in Bangladesh’s economic potential and its commitment to fostering resilient and future-oriented partnerships.

German delegation explores investment opportunities in Bangladesh | Trade Data News Bangladesh

After attending the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025 and meeting with different stakeholders in Dhaka and Chittagong, a group of German business stakeholders concluded their five-day trip to Bangladesh.

apparelresources.com

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

In stark contrast, under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh attracted a staggering $3.48 billion in direct foreign investment during the 2023 summit

Please provide proofs of your staggering 3.48 billions of fascists era FDI claim. Not just statements or news links. Proper breakdown of which companies invested and where.

 

[Prince_]

Please provide proofs of your staggering 3.48 billions of fascists era FDI claim. Not just statements or news links. Proper breakdown of which companies invested and where.

Tell me, how much foreign investment has the Yunus Administration managed to attract during its tenure? When even local investors are terrified to invest due to the government’s utter failure to establish the rule of law, it's understandable why the foreign investors have avoided Bangladesh like the plague over the past 8 months.

What was the outcome of the much hyped Business Summit? Any real results? Or just another PR stunt?

I don’t think I need to remind you of the billions of dollars in foreign investment Bangladesh received over the last 14/15 years. The data is available for anyone to see. Just check the Bangladesh Bank or EPB websites.

Also, don’t forget that it took Bangladesh 36 years to reach a GDP of $96 billion by 2008, but in just 14/15 years, it has soared to $465 billion. That’s what real progress looks like, and it has happened only because of one visionary leader. The people of Bangladesh will forever be in her debt.

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

Tell me, how much foreign investment has the Yunus Administration managed to attract during its tenure?

If you failed to notice, Yunus administration is a transitional administration. Its job is to reform and transform Bangladesh as a democratic state. Yet, Yunus administration is trying to attract foreign investors for Bangladesh. Which is a generous act from their side.

When even local investors are terrified to invest due to the government’s utter failure to establish the rule of law

LOL, you're peddling the same old lie as usual. Bangladesh is doing great economically. Because rule of law is there...

it's understandable why the foreign investors have avoided Bangladesh like the plague over the past 8 months.

LOL, just look at fascist awami era ease of doing business rankings YoY. Foreign investors always avoided Bangladesh. Yunus administration is trying to fix it with reforms...

What was the outcome of the much hyped Business Summit? Any real results? Or just another PR stunt?

Of course it will bring results. We have real pros on helm not fascists era illiterate clowns. We are already seeing "real" results. Not some unreliable skyhigh claims...

I don’t think I need to remind you of the billions of dollars in foreign investment Bangladesh received over the last 14/15 years. The data is available for anyone to see. Just check the Bangladesh Bank or EPB websites.

Bring the data here. It is your job to do that. You claimed and I challenged. Let the show begin...

Also, don’t forget that it took Bangladesh 36 years to reach a GDP of $96 billion by 2008, but in just 14/15 years, it has soared to $465 billion. That’s what real progress looks like, and it has happened only because of one visionary leader. The people of Bangladesh will forever be in her debt.

Blah blah blah, take your fascist worshipping elsewhere. I have a MSS in Economics. Im well aware of Bangladeshs economic misery inflicted by fascist awami league and its supreme leader killer hasina.

Just because she presented good looking numbers with high interest foreign loans that doesn't mean our economy was in good shape. Fascists could not even manage covid time economic shock...

 

[Prince_]

If you failed to notice, Yunus administration is a transitional administration. Its job is to reform and transform Bangladesh as a democratic state. Yet, Yunus administration is trying to attract foreign investors for Bangladesh. Which is a generous act from their side.

LOL, you're peddling the same old lie as usual. Bangladesh is doing great economically. Because rule of law is there...

LOL, just look at fascist awami era ease of doing business rankings YoY. Foreign investors always avoided Bangladesh. Yunus administration is trying to fix it with reforms...

Of course it will bring results. We have real pros on helm not fascists era illiterate clowns. We are already seeing "real" results. Not some unreliable skyhigh claims...

Bring the data here. It is your job to do that. You claimed and I challenged. Let the show begin...

Blah blah blah, take your fascist worshipping elsewhere. I have a MSS in Economics. Im well aware of Bangladeshs economic misery inflicted by fascist awami league and its supreme leader killer hasina.

Just because she presented good looking numbers with high interest foreign loans that doesn't mean our economy was in good shape. Fascists could not even manage covid time economic shock...

So, you r an economics graduate. Good, very good. Someone with an economics background should form his opinion based on cold, hard statistics, not personal whims, right? Yet in your case, I often see the opposite.

For example, you falsely claim that law and order have improved under the Yunus administration. However, data published by the Bangladesh Police clearly shows that all types of crimes have increased disproportionately over the last 7/8 months.

Now, let’s examine how this abject failure of Yunus Govt to ensure stability has impacted foreign investment in our country. FDI dropped to a six-year low in the July Sept quarter of FY25, reaching only 104.33 million dollar, a 71% decline from the same quarter in FY24. In the October–December quarter, FDI fell even further, plummeting to around 70 million dollar. Net equity investment fell by 46% to $76.79 million, while reinvested earnings dropped by 73% to $72.9 million.

Furthermore, according to Bangladesh Bank, credit flow to private firms experienced its lowest growth since 2015. As a result, most private firms have halted their expansion plans, rendering thousands of young people unemployed.

Slowly but surely, this so called student regime is dragging the country back to the same gutter we had painfully climbed out of after 2006. Go and take a look at the Total GDP, GDP growth rate and per capita income of Bangladesh now and compare them with pre 2006 era. These figures r widely available on the internet.

Never forget it was Sheikh Hasina who transformed a nation with a per capita income of barely 600 dollar into one of the highest earning countries in Southeast Asia during her tenure.

 

[uksyl]

So, you r an economics graduate. Good, very good. Someone with an economics background should form his opinion based on cold, hard statistics, not personal whims, right? Yet in your case, I often see the opposite.

For example, you falsely claim that law and order have improved under the Yunus administration. However, data published by the Bangladesh Police clearly shows that all types of crimes have increased disproportionately over the last 7/8 months.

Now, let’s examine how this abject failure of Yunus Govt to ensure stability has impacted foreign investment in our country. FDI dropped to a six-year low in the July Sept quarter of FY25, reaching only 104.33 million dollar, a 71% decline from the same quarter in FY24. In the October–December quarter, FDI fell even further, plummeting to around 70 million dollar. Net equity investment fell by 46% to $76.79 million, while reinvested earnings dropped by 73% to $72.9 million.
View attachment 112163
Furthermore, according to Bangladesh Bank, credit flow to private firms experienced its lowest growth since 2015. As a result, most private firms have halted their expansion plans, rendering thousands of young people unemployed.

Slowly but surely, this so called student regime is dragging the country back to the same gutter we had painfully climbed out of after 2006. Go and take a look at the Total GDP, GDP growth rate and per capita income of Bangladesh now and compare them with pre 2006 era. These figures r widely available on the internet.

Never forget it was Sheikh Hasina who transformed a nation with a per capita income of barely 600 dollar into one of the highest earning countries in Southeast Asia during her tenure.

I can confirm from friends in Bangladesh that the law and order situation has really deteriorated. Safety and social stability is a prerequisite to economic growth.

Quite a few posters here are partisan and see everything in binary terms, the situation is more nuanced. If you do anything but endorse their narrative they will start engaging in personal attacks and labelling you as supporter the party which they are opposed to. Whilst there was economic growth under Hasina there was also Awami League cadres brutalizing people up and down under the country, but on the other hand whilst Yunus has his advantages there are problems including the students and their very negative influence on the government, the breakdown of law and order and unnecessary antagonizing of India (the guardian of the seas comments by Yunus doesn't fall in that category by the way and is just the anti-Muslim Indian media trying to vilify and intimidate Bangladesh, the RAW connected Gaurav Arya basically threatened to invade our country).

Elections must be held soon whilst necessary reforms must be undertaken.

Yunus is doing a difficult job and I wish him the best. Most likely the next ruling party will be the BNP but hopefully a reformed BNP not engaged in massive corruption et la the early 2000s and not too close to radicals and extremists (including rabid India-haters) but more nationalistic and pro-Bangladesh.

@MNZGamerX

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

So, you r an economics graduate. Good, very good. Someone with an economics background should form his opinion based on cold, hard statistics, not personal whims, right? Yet in your case, I often see the opposite.

For example, you falsely claim that law and order have improved under the Yunus administration. However, data published by the Bangladesh Police clearly shows that all types of crimes have increased disproportionately over the last 7/8 months.

LOL, crimes committed and crimes reported these are totally two different thing. Awami era was a reign of terror, they ruled like nazis. Crimes were rampant in Bangladesh plus awami terrorism and killings but law enforcement agencies didn't registered crimes because it would tarnish the image of awami terror regime.

Now the picture is totally opposite with true defacto freedom of speech...

Now, let’s examine how this abject failure of Yunus Govt to ensure stability has impacted foreign investment in our country. FDI dropped to a six-year low in the July Sept quarter of FY25, reaching only 104.33 million dollar, a 71% decline from the same quarter in FY24. In the October–December quarter, FDI fell even further, plummeting to around 70 million dollar. Net equity investment fell by 46% to $76.79 million, while reinvested earnings dropped by 73% to $72.9 million.

LOL, we weren't talking about so called FDI failure of Yunus admin. You were claiming huge FDI inflow in awami era. I challenged you. Now for couple of posts you're beating around the bush instead of presenting proper proofs of your claims.
.
Since you joined this forum you're peddling awami leagues fake narratives and claims. When challenged you weren't able you present facts. For the last time present proofs of your claim about huge FDI inflow in Awami era...

Furthermore, according to Bangladesh Bank, credit flow to private firms experienced its lowest growth since 2015. As a result, most private firms have halted their expansion plans, rendering thousands of young people unemployed.

Blame awami league and its crony capitalists. Their rampant corruption, bank looting and money launderings are responsible for this situation. Awami league destroyed almost all private banks including giants like Islami Bank, Sonali Bank and others...

Now the Banks have every right to reclaim their money from awami loan defaulters. And as a consequence lots of awami crony conglomerates are closing down.

And who told you most of private firms have halted their expansion?

Slowly but surely, this so called student regime is dragging the country back to the same gutter we had painfully climbed out of after 2006. Go and take a look at the Total GDP, GDP growth rate and per capita income of Bangladesh now and compare them with pre 2006 era. These figures r widely available on the internet.

Never forget it was Sheikh Hasina who transformed a nation with a per capita income of barely 600 dollar into one of the highest earning countries in Southeast Asia during her tenure.

Just remember awami league is directly responsible for more than a million of killings in Bangladesh...

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

@Prince_ You're yet to provide proof of your claims. Im waiting.

@LeonBlack08 You should start taking note of posters who are copy pasting fiction instead of facts. When challenged they're coming with more fiction.

In Bangladeshi context, being a fascist sympathizer is equivalent of being a Nazi sympathizer and denying fascists crimes against humanity is equivalent of holocaust denial...

 

[LeonBlack08]

@Prince_ You're yet to provide proof of your claims. Im waiting.

@LeonBlack08 You should start taking note of posters who are copy pasting fiction instead of facts. When challenged they're coming with more fiction.

In Bangladeshi context, being a fascist sympathizer is equivalent of being a Nazi sympathizer and denying fascists crimes against humanity is equivalent of holocaust denial...

If it is fiction in your opinion, you need to counter it with facts and present counter arguments in a civil manner without name-calling or labelling them. The other members are entitled to their opinion so long they don't condone criminal activities and/or violate forum rules.

If it is deliberate and repeated lying despite being debunked, please report those posts.

 

[LeonBlack08]

The realization period for such promised investments usually spans multiple years. The main success of Hasina's tenure, often referred to as the golden economic era in Bangladesh, was her ability to project a positive image of the country to investors through her vision, diplomacy, and leadership.

However, after the Hasina government was unjustly ousted just one year following the investment summit, it became the responsibility of the Yunus administration to maintain a peaceful, business friendly environment to ensure the realization of those promised investments.

But, as we've seen in the last 8 months, Mr. Yunus has failed miserably in this regard as Factory vandalism, arson, mob lynching, robbery have become a daily occurrence in his tenure, which I believe caused the investors to rethink their decision.

She was in power for 15 years. She had most stability compared to any other ruler in Bangladesh's history because she completely forced the opposition underground. Billions were committed by foreign investors over the years and was supposed to flow in, but majority didn't because of red tape and corruption of her regime. I already mentioned the case of Samsung.

The fact that you are blaming a transitional government who barely has been in power a few months amidst a volatile situation, for not getting enough investment commitment is ridiculous. You are comparing apples to oranges.

If you want to put Younus' ability to test, let him be in power 15 years and then we can compare the achievements.

Also - She was in power without fair election and killed thousands of civilians. If she had the best interest of the country in her heart, she would have resigned after the first day when the protests turned bloody by her own party thugs.

So please don't try to take us for fools that she was unjustly overthrown.

 

[Fallstuff]

This Ashik dude hit all the hot spots in terms of attracting for investment. Prospecting for new is a continuous process. If anybody who knows something called drip marketing, then he/she would know that it is a continuous process.
Take feedback from prospect and take those feedback seriously to attract investment.
One summit won’t get too much.

 

[LeonBlack08]

This Ashik dude hit all the hot spots in terms of attracting for investment. Prospecting for new is a continuous process. If anybody who knows something called drip marketing, then he/she would know that it is a continuous process.
Take feedback from prospect and take those feedback seriously to attract investment.
One summit won’t get too much.

Exactly.

It's so ridiculous that people comparing a transitional government - whose job is to restore normalcy and hold elections - with an autocratic regime who were in power for 15 years and had the ability to do a lot more to bring in FDI with the level of political stability it enjoyed.

The fact that this summit raised this much positive buzz is a success in itself for a transitional government.