Bangladesh 2.0: Transformative Momentum

By Tarannum Rahman

In the first installment of this series, we explored ten bright spots that showed how far the country has come. This time, we’re exploring other positive trends. Starting from big economic moves to community-led green shifts, Bangladesh is on the move.

1. Economic Resilience
   Despite global challenges like rising prices and trade slowdowns, Bangladesh has managed to deliver a strong economic performance. According to official reports, the country’s export earnings have reached $48.28 billion in FY 2025 (covering the fiscal year July 2024-June 2025). This represents an increase of 8.58% over the prior fiscal year. This achievement was largely driven by the ready-made garment industry (RMG), with additional thanks to growth in plastics and jute. Even more impressively, foreign exchange reserves reached $31.7 billion, and a record-breaking $30.32 billion in remittances were received by Bangladesh during the year, including $2.82 billion in June alone. Click Here For More On This

   The Bangladesh government signed a five-year wheat import deal with the U.S. Not only will this stabilize food supplies, but it also helps strengthen the case for signing a trade deal with the U.S. Click Here For More On This

   On the energy front, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) paid $437 million to fully clear all outstanding dues to India’s Adani Power for electricity imports. The payment covered bills up to March 31, 2025, and avoided late payment fees. Adani’s Godda plant supplies about 10% of Bangladesh’s power, and both of its units are now back in full operation. To ensure timely future payments, Bangladesh also set up a Letter of Credit backed by a government guarantee. This move effectively stabilizes energy cooperation between the two countries. Click Here For More On This

2. Going Green! Rooftops and Rivers
   Bangladesh’s energy future is getting smarter and more sustainable. In mid-2025, the government introduced a policy requiring all public buildings to install rooftop solar panels. This was a bold yet practical move towards the national goal of meeting 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2040. This initiative not only eases pressure on the national grid, but it also promotes long-term environmental benefits such as improved air quality. Rooftop solar is especially effective in a heavily populated country like Bangladesh, where space is limited. Click Here For More On This

   Meanwhile, further south, farmers are reviving floating gardens, using bamboo structures to grow food during floods. This centuries-old practice is a method of growing food on beds made from water hyacinths and bamboo. They offer a reliable, eco-friendly, and chemical-free source of food during the annual monsoon. The return of this tradition is more than just agricultural; it’s a symbol of environmental awareness mixed with ancestral knowledge. Supported by NGOs and local innovation hubs, this approach is gaining global attention as a model for climate-smart farming. Click Here For More On This

3. The Bangladeshi Digital New Age
   North South University launched the country’s first Quantum Computing Center, led by Dr. Mahdy Rahman Chowdhury. This pivotal step positions Bangladesh as an emerging leader in next-gen technological research. Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize everything from climate modeling to cybersecurity. Bangladesh’s entry into this space not only signals ambition, but also the potential to create space for academic and technological growth in the country. Click Here For More On This

   Future installments of this series will focus on other positive developments. We welcome suggestions for topics to cover, which can be sent via our social media channels.

The author is a Bangladeshi-American undergraduate at the City University of New York (CUNY) who is interning during the summer of 2025 with Friends of Bangladesh with support from the Colin Powell Fellowship for International Human Rights.