The World Bank says the global financial crisis will increase economic uncertainty in Bangladesh, making it difficult for the country to achieve its target annual growth rate of 7 percent.

In a report released Tuesday, the World bank said economic growth in Bangladesh was strong in the fiscal year that ended this past June, reaching 6.7 percent. But the bank said the growth outlook for the July 2011-June 2012 fiscal year remains uncertain.

The bank said debt problems in the United States and the eurozone could affect Bangladesh's balance of payments and put pressure on the exchange rate.

It also noted that the country's slow pace of reforms, inadequate energy supply and poor infrastructure may also affect domestic and foreign investment — further dampening economic prospects.

The bank said a high and volatile inflation rate driven by food prices remains a concern in Bangladesh. Inflation reached 12 percent in September of this year, the highest recorded since 1999.