Bangladesh will have to meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure new loan assistance, although differences over some issues will be resolved through negotiations, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Thursday.
Talks with the IMF on a new lending programme are progressing positively, but further discussions are needed to finalise the conditions and agree on how they will be met, he said.
“We will have to fulfil the conditions, but some issues will be resolved through discussions,” the minister told reporters after meeting IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok.
Banking sector reforms, bank recapitalisation, the tax-to-GDP ratio and macroeconomic stability remain key issues in the discussions.
Chowdhury said both sides had observations on several issues, but Bangladesh had made progress in addressing concerns raised by the IMF. Some matters had already been resolved, while others would require further negotiations.
Banking reforms, revenue mobilisation in focus
The minister said the IMF had raised concerns about the banking sector and the tax-to-GDP ratio, adding that Bangladesh agreed with the lender’s observations in these areas.
However, he said the terms of the proposed programme and the measures needed to meet its conditions had yet to be finalised.
The discussions have included detailed exchanges of information between Bangladesh’s delegation and the IMF over the past several days, he added.
Chowdhury also said the IMF was satisfied with Bangladesh’s economic progress, considering the difficult economic conditions inherited by the government and the impact of ongoing global conflicts.
He expressed optimism that continued engagement would help the two sides reach a final decision on the new programme.
Government seeks partnership with lenders
The finance minister said Bangladesh would work with the IMF, the World Bank and other multilateral institutions to implement economic reforms and the government’s development plans.
He said the country’s economic policies and strategies were credible, pointing to the continued support of development partners as evidence of confidence in its approach.
The government would pursue its own priorities while working with international lenders, he added, stressing that differences over programme conditions should be addressed through patient negotiations.
The 2026 annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group began in Bangkok on October 12 and will continue until October 18, bringing together finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers and development partners from around the world.