Bangladeshis are almost evenly divided over whether the country is moving in the right direction, with public optimism declining since late last year, according to the latest International Republican Institute (IRI) survey.
The nationwide poll found that 46% of respondents believe Bangladesh is heading in the right direction, while 44% think it is moving in the wrong direction. Another 9% did not know or declined to answer.
The narrow two-point gap marks a significant shift from October 2025, when 53% believed the country was heading in the right direction and 42% said the opposite.
The findings suggest that the optimism recorded last year has weakened as Bangladesh navigates its post-election political and economic transition.
The mood also varies considerably across the country.
Rangpur emerged as the most optimistic division, with 59% saying Bangladesh was heading in the right direction. Barisal followed at 52% and Chittagong at 51%.
At the other end, only 29% of respondents in Sylhet said the country was moving in the right direction, while 59% said it was heading the wrong way.
Dhaka was also more pessimistic than optimistic, with 42% saying right direction against 48% saying wrong direction.
Among those who said Bangladesh was heading in the wrong direction, the most frequently cited reason was rising commodity prices, mentioned by 18%.
Another 17% pointed to deterioration in law and order and the judicial situation, while 10% cited increasing corruption.
Gas shortages, lack of employment opportunities and low agricultural prices were among the other concerns.
The findings show that the public verdict on the country’s overall trajectory remains finely balanced despite comparatively positive assessments of democracy recorded elsewhere in the same survey.
IRI surveyed 5,000 adults across all 64 districts between May 16 and June 24.