Top business leaders have urged the Bangladesh Bank to bring down interest rates to a single digit in the upcoming monetary policy, alleging that high interest rates are hurting trade and investment.

The demand came during a meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur at the central bank headquarters in Dhaka’s Motijheel on Thursday (9 October).

A 14-member delegation representing FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA, and other organizations attended the meeting along with senior bank officials.

After the meeting, FBCCI Secretary General Md. Alamgir said lending rates now exceed 14 percent, while small and medium businesses earn profits of only 10–11 percent. “The current rate is not business-friendly and undermines global competitiveness,” he said.

Alamgir added that lower interest rates are essential for maintaining export competitiveness, boosting investment, and controlling inflation. In response, Governor Mansur assured that the policy rate will be reduced to a single digit in the next monetary policy.

The FBCCI also proposed extending the tenure of a committee supporting businesses hit by Covid-19 and other crises and forming two new panels—one to review loans under Tk 50 crore and another to resolve banking issues for export-oriented industries.