IMF loan terms under review
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the government will not agree to all conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in pursuit of loan assistance.
Speaking to journalists at his Secretariat office on Sunday after returning from the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings, he said any decisions would be taken with the interests of the country’s people and businesses in mind.
Khasru stressed that engagement with the IMF is not based on charity but on commercial considerations.
“There are multiple ongoing discussions between Bangladesh and the IMF and World Bank.
It’s not just about the amount of money, which many tend to overlook,” he said.
He noted that negotiations with the IMF are still ongoing and may continue for another 15 to 20 days, or even up to a month.
“We have not agreed on everything. We are reviewing their proposals while also considering our own expectations.
As an elected government, we will not accept every condition placed before us,” he added.
The finance minister said the government would avoid any decision that places undue pressure on citizens or businesses.
He further stated that discussions with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and other development partners have already been completed.
Khasru noted that the current IMF programme, initiated under the previous Awami League government, includes several conditions, some of which may not be acceptable to the present administration.
“Its tenure is limited, and we will decide whether to move forward with a new programme,” he said.
Dismissing speculation, he added that there is no link between IMF loan conditions and the introduction of the Family Card scheme. “Rather, the initiative has been widely appreciated and will help ensure economic benefits reach the poor,” he said.
On fuel price adjustments, Khasru said the recent increase reflects global market trends rather than IMF pressure.
“Fuel prices have risen worldwide. If we do not adjust, it creates strain on the treasury, especially ahead of the budget. So we increased prices only to the necessary extent,” he said.
Regarding inflation, he said the impact remains uncertain, noting that the fuel price hike is temporary and relatively limited in its effect on the inflation basket.
He also said delegations from the IMF, World Bank, ADB, Infrastructure Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) are expected to visit Bangladesh, reflecting continued interest in cooperation with the government.
Khasru added that the presidents of the World Bank and ADB are also scheduled to visit the country in the near future.
