The Terminal Disease of the Economy: Cause – Yunus, Cure – Removal from Power

April marked a dramatic downturn in Bangladesh’s economic indicators. The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) plummeted by 8.8 points, landing at just 52.9—its lowest since the beginning of the recovery phase. The PMI is a critical indicator that reflects the pace and direction of the economy, and such a sharp drop signals deep internal economic turmoil.

It’s time to dig into the real causes of this decline. Temporary holidays or global market volatility are no longer sufficient explanations. At its core lie administrative stagnation, arbitrary economic decisions, and above all—an illegitimate regime. The person currently at the helm of the state lacks both political legitimacy and a vision for sound economic policymaking.

Under the unofficial economic leadership of Muhammad Yunus, the entire system is being driven toward collapse. His personal ambition to be seen as a “savior” to the international community, combined with undemocratic interference in national policy, has reduced Bangladesh’s economy to a laboratory experiment on helpless subjects.

While growth in the agriculture sector has slowed, the slight momentum in production and construction will be unsustainable unless political uncertainty and administrative paralysis are resolved. The kind of stability and realistic policies needed to revive the economy are completely absent at present.

According to PMI data from the longstanding business organization MCCI and research body Policy Exchange, the index had dropped to 36.9 points during the opposition-led movement in July last year. While there was some improvement after October, the trend is now clearly reversing. These are not just numbers—they are warning signs of an impending financial catastrophe.

We are facing a reality where the regime has neither legitimacy nor a functioning economic compass. Imposing tariffs on export-dependent sectors, failing to resolve internal energy crises, and looming political instability have cast a dark shadow over every layer of the economy. This darkness has been imposed by those who sit in power without the people’s vote, suppressing the country’s economic freedom.

The economic slowdown in April is a loud alarm bell. Unfortunately, the state’s policymakers lack the sensitivity to hear it. To them, the real condition of the country is secondary to their own position on international stages, awards, accolades, and foreign media praise.

Bangladesh is heading toward a dangerous crossroads—on one side, a crisis of political legitimacy; on the other, a tightening economic noose. The result could be long-lasting and severe damage. It’s time to hold the real culprits of this destruction accountable and speak the truth openly.

The so-called "icon of development" has now become a thorn in the nation's throat. As long as this illegitimate and self-absorbed leadership continues to control Bangladesh's economic radar, we can expect not progress—but a plunge into the abyss.