IMF Asia-Pacific Director Krishna Srinivasan met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday and discussed the stalled $5.5 billion loan programme, according to media reports.
Srinivasan, who is on a two-day visit, paid a courtesy call at the Secretariat in the morning, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a Facebook post.
Officials suggested the talks likely focused on Bangladesh’s reform agenda and the economic pressures stemming from the Middle East crisis. The IMF team was also scheduled to meet the finance minister separately and later hold discussions with the Bangladesh Bank governor.
Bangladesh could receive a $1.3 billion instalment by June if the government advances key reforms, including adopting a more market-based exchange rate, boosting revenue mobilisation, cutting subsidies, and addressing weaknesses in the banking sector.
After the meeting, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters that the IMF board is expected to make the final decision on the disbursement at its April session. He added that discussions on the programme have already taken place.
“We have had an ongoing programme with the IMF for several years. This programme will be reviewed again, and there is no problem with that,” the minister said.
