The central bank aims to gradually decrease the inflation rate to approximately five per cent in the near future from its current level of over eight percent.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor Dr Md Habibur Rahman said this at the divisional-level monetary policy discussion meeting in the BB, Rangpur office recently.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), headline inflation reached 8.49 percent in December, up from 8.29 percent in November and 8.17 percent of October. Bangladesh Bank had a target of 6.5-7.0 percent inflation rate for the first half of FY 26, according to its monetary policy statement of the first half of current fiscal.

The target was 6.5 percent for the second half. The meeting was organised on Thursday to take suggestions from the stakeholders concerned in order to form the monetary policy for the second half of current fiscal year.

Mr. Rahman presided over the meeting while BB Rangpur office Executive Director Md. Ali Mahmud delivered the welcome speech.

BB Monetary Policy Department Director (in-charge) Md. Sadrul Hasan delivered his speech explaining the objectives of the divisional level monetary policy meeting.