Political unrest in the last three months has caused a loss of $2.20 billion of the country's economy, according to the World Bank.
The World Bank's Chief Economist in Bangladesh Dr Jahid Hossain unveiled these findings at the launch of Bangladesh Development Update Report 2015 at its Dhaka office on Sunday afternoon.
He said the damage is equivalent to about 1% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2014-15.
"The GDP would be 6.4% to 6.6% in 2014-15 fiscal year if the political turmoil had not occurred," he added.
Political tensions between the Awami League-led government and the BNP-led 20-party alliance increased in January 2015 on the first anniversary of the January 5, 2014 parliamentary elections, which the BNP had boycotted.
The ruling Awami League and BNP were scheduled to hold rallies in the capital marking January 5.
The BNP was looking to observe January 5 as “democracy killing day” while the Awami League was set to celebrate “victory day of democracy.”
More than 130 people have died and scores have been injured in different parts of the country in violence during the non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led alliance.
Of this violence, a large number of arson attacks are being conducted on highways. Hundreds of vehicles, including those belonging to law-enforcers, were attacked and burnt.
The BNP led 20-party alliance enforced this non-stop nationwide blockade since January 5 in protest against the “confinement” of party chief Khaleda Zia.
