Controlling inflation is central to the revamped monetary policy

Inflation control remains a key focus in the revised monetary policy for the second half of the current fiscal year, now under the post-uprising government's purview. This was highlighted during a preparatory meeting on Monday.

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has requested input from members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to finalize the monetary measures for the next six months, beginning January. The meeting, held in a hybrid format at the BB headquarters, was chaired by Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur.

During the session, Dr. Md. Ezazul Islam, Executive Director of the BB, presented an overview of the country’s macroeconomic situation, emphasizing inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, and liquidity. 

A senior BB official stated, "We will finalize our next monetary policy statement (MPS) based on the opinions of MPC members." The members reviewed current inflation trends, economic growth prospects, financial market developments, and external sector dynamics.

Attendees included MPC members such as Dr. Sadiq Ahmed, economist; Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, BB Deputy Governor; Professor Masuda Yasmeen, Chair of the Department of Economics at Dhaka University; and Dr. Md. Ezazul Islam, BB Executive Director. However, Dr. Binayak Sen, Director-General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), was unable to attend due to technical issues.

The BB is prioritizing inflation control and exchange rate stability in its upcoming monetary policy, which is set to be announced by the end of January 2025.