Employment and industrial growth in Bangladesh are increasingly concentrated around the capital Dhaka and the port city Chattogram. Recently, Rangpur has also joined this growth trend, forming what the World Bank describes as a “trident-shaped growth corridor.” This observation comes from the World Bank’s “Bangladesh Development Update 2025,” published on October 7.
According to the report, over the past two decades, there have been significant changes in the geographical distribution of employment, population, and infrastructure development across Bangladesh. The main driving force behind this shift has been the manufacturing sector, especially the rapid expansion of the ready-made garments (RMG) and textile industries.
However, the World Bank notes that this industrialization has occurred largely without proper planning—while it has accelerated national growth, it has also widened regional inequalities and intensified urban imbalances.
Dhaka–Chattogram Corridor: The Core of Growth
The Dhaka–Chattogram corridor is now Bangladesh’s most dynamic employment zone, hosting most of the country’s large-scale industries and high-productivity jobs. The expansion of the garment and textile industries has made this corridor the principal economic hub of the nation.
In recent years, this corridor’s growth has expanded southward to Cox’s Bazar and northward through Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Rangpur, forming a “trident-shaped economic pattern” on the country’s map—with its three arms pointing toward Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rangpur.
The Rise of Rangpur and New Industrial Zones
New industrial zones are emerging around Rangpur city, creating fresh employment opportunities for the country’s northern region. Similarly, Narsingdi–Madhabdi, Brahmanbaria, and Noakhali are also rapidly industrializing due to their strategic locations and road connectivity.
Over the past decade, the Narsingdi–Madhabdi area on the eastern bank of the Meghna River has attracted substantial foreign investment, particularly in the textile sector, the report adds.
Growing East–West Divide
Industrialization has remained concentrated in the eastern and southeastern regions of Bangladesh, creating what the World Bank calls an “east–west divide.” As a result, the southwestern districts, particularly Khulna, Jashore, and Barishal, continue to face limited employment opportunities.
The World Bank describes this imbalance as a “regional welfare gap,” warning that it could become a major obstacle to long-term sustainable growth.
Planning Gaps and Weak Local Governance
The report highlights a major policy mismatch between actual industrial and employment trends and the government’s urban planning framework—a situation the World Bank calls a “major policy blind spot.”
It notes that local governments lack sufficient financial and technical capacity, preventing them from effectively implementing plans or driving infrastructure development.
Policy Recommendations
The World Bank emphasizes that Bangladesh’s future economic success will depend not only on the rate of growth, but also on how inclusive and regionally balanced that growth becomes.
The report recommends that the government:
Strengthen spatial (location-based) planning and investment,
Enhance the financial and technical capacity of local governments, and
Improve policy coordination to reduce regional disparities.
In the report’s words:
“Bangladesh’s future success will depend not just on maintaining the momentum of growth, but on ensuring that this growth brings meaningful and positive changes to the lives of women and young people.”