Corruption remains the biggest obstacle to doing business in Bangladesh, according to a survey by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). 

The survey, conducted during the Sheikh Hasina's regime, revealed that nearly 17 percent of businesses identified corruption as their primary challenge in 2024.

Volatility in the exchange rate was termed as the second biggest challenge followed by inefficient government bureaucracy, inflation and limited access to finance.

The survey, carried out between February and June this year, also highlighted several other problematic factors: inadequate infrastructure, poor public health, crime and theft and low work ethics in the labour force.

During the tenure of the previous regime, Bangladesh's business environment saw limited progress as business activities remained concentrated within a few dominant groups, said Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of CPD, presented the findings of the study at a dialogue at Brac Centre Inn in Dhaka today. 

The CPD organised the event on business environment reform in Bangladesh. 

Moazzem said the absence of substantial reforms in policies, laws, institutions, and operations hinders the development of a participatory and competitive business environment.  

The paper further said that businesses faced prolonged uncertainty during the movement by students against discrimination, with its impacts persisting even after the country transitioned into a new phase.