Dhaka, Feb. 14 -- Bangladesh is facing its most severe cost-of-living crisis in recent history, characterised by the highest inflation in South Asia, projected at roughly 8.9 per cent in 2025 and expected to remain high in 2026. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, inflation in Bangladesh increased from 8.17 per cent in October to 8.58 per cent in January this year marking a 5-month high and sustaining a long period of, at times, over 10 per cent food price-driven inflation. Also, supply-side constraints, import costs, and depreciation of the Taka added to the inflationary pressure. The crisis is causing significant cost-of-living distress.

Bangladesh's inflation rate at 8.58 per cent in January, is much higher th...