Dhaka’s per capita income stands at $5,163 — almost double the national average of $2,820 — underscoring the growing economic concentration in the capital, according to the Economic Position Index (EPI) unveiled on Saturday by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
The EPI survey, which offers a quarterly assessment of the country’s economic activities, found that Dhaka district alone contributes nearly 46 percent of Bangladesh’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), valued at $462 billion in fiscal year 2024–25. The city also accounts for 40 percent of total national employment.
With 32 percent of the urban population and 11.2 percent of the country’s total population residing in Dhaka, the capital is one of Asia’s most densely concentrated urban economies. It is also responsible for 40 percent of the country’s total exports, the survey revealed.
The report further highlights the concentration of corporate control, noting that 55.8 percent of the manufacturing sector is dominated by just 365 companies, while 58.6 percent of the garment industry is controlled by 214 organisations.
During a focus group discussion at the DCCI, speakers also observed that nearly 80 percent of the national economy depends on the informal sector, stressing the need for policies to formalise and diversify economic participation.
The keynote paper, titled “Economic Position Index (EPI): Assessing Quarterly Economic Position in Dhaka District,” was presented by Dr AKM Asaduzzaman Patwary, Acting Secretary General of DCCI. The event was chaired by Taskeen Ahmed, President of DCCI, and featured Dr Zaidi Sattar, Chairman of the Policy Research Institute (PRI); Miah Rahmat Ali, Senior Private Sector Specialist at IFC; Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, former member of the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission; and Rizwan Rahman, former DCCI president, among others.
Speaking at the event, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said the EPI was developed to capture real-time dynamics of the economy that traditional indicators—such as the Business Confidence Index, Ease of Doing Business Index, or GDP growth—fail to reflect.
“To bridge that gap, DCCI designed the EPI to provide timely insights into production, sales, order flow, exports, employment, and investment trends,” Ahmed said.
While the current survey focuses on Dhaka district, the chamber plans to gradually expand it nationwide to track regional economic performance more comprehensively.
Ahmed noted that the EPI is intended not merely as a statistical report but as a policy-support tool, helping policymakers and businesses identify emerging economic trends and sectoral shifts more promptly.
The index covers quarterly performance in both the manufacturing and services sectors—including ready-made garments, textiles, wholesale and retail trade, real estate, transport, logistics, and banking.