Dhaka district alone contributes about 46 percent of Bangladesh’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), amounting to $462 billion in the fiscal year 2024–25, according to a new analysis by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

The study found that the per capita income in Dhaka district stands at $5,164—nearly twice the national average of $2,820. The capital region also remains the country’s largest employment hub, accounting for over 40 percent of total jobs, or around 68.09 million employed people.

The findings were presented on Saturday during a focus group discussion titled “Economic Position Index (EPI): Assessing Quarterly Economic Position in Dhaka District”, organized at the DCCI auditorium. Dr AKM Asaduzzaman Patwary, Acting Secretary General of DCCI, delivered the keynote presentation, while DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed chaired the event.

Participants included government officials, Bangladesh Bank representatives, economists, and business leaders, among them IFC’s Senior Private Sector Specialist Miah Rahmat Ali, former Tariff Commission member Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, and former DCCI president Rizwan Rahman.

Mr Ahmed said the EPI initiative aims to assess Bangladesh’s economic activities every quarter, providing more real-time insights than existing indicators such as the Business Confidence Index or GDP growth rates.

He explained that the EPI captures production, sales, exports, employment, and investment trends in both manufacturing and services sectors, including garments, textiles, trade, logistics, real estate, and banking.

Initially focused on the Dhaka district, the index will gradually expand nationwide to serve as a policy-support tool for identifying economic trends and sectoral shifts more efficiently.