Bangladesh incurred $2 billion loss due to BNP protests

DHAKA: Bangladesh has incurred a loss of more than $ 2 billion in the first three months this year due to the political turmoil triggered by anti-government protests, a World Bank report today said.

The Bangladesh Development Update Report 2015, unveiled by the multilateral lending agency at its Dhaka office, said Bangladesh suffered a loss of about $ 2.2 billion (nearly Tk 17,150 crore) due to the political unrest.

"The country incurred the financial lost due to political stalemate in Bangladesh," World Bank's Chief Economist Zahid Hossain said.

Bangladesh faced huge financial loss in January, February and March this year, Zahid said, apparently referring to the deadly protests launched by the main opposition BNP.

He added that the three months were dry season, and the loss incurred was huge as it was the peak time for production, the Dailystar online reported.

In the past three months, Bangladesh has witnessed deadly protests spread across the country by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its rightwing allies. More than 100 people have died in the protests.

They enforced a nationwide blockade since January 6, coinciding with the first anniversary of the controversial January 5 elections it had boycotted, virtually giving a walkover to the ruling Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina's arch rival and BNP chief Khaleda Zia demands mideterm elections under a neutral caretaker government ahead of the one scheduled for 2019.

The anti-government protesters have carried out sporadic attacks on buses, trucks and ferries in the country.

At the peak of the protests, political analysts and civil society members said the unrest has pushed Bangladesh into a "political wilderness".