Bangladesh will not accept loans under the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed.
After the economic shock following the COVID-19 pandemic caused a continuous decline in reserves, Bangladesh signed a loan agreement with the IMF for $4.7 billion in 2022 under various conditions.
Later, in 2024, after coming to power following a mass uprising, the interim government signed another loan agreement for $800 million, and at the same time, various conditions regarding reforms from donor agencies began to increase.
However, in the current context, remittances and earnings from expatriates are showcasing Bangladesh's capability. Speaking with journalists on the second day of the annual World Bank-IMF conference, the Economic Adviser said, "If the IMF adds various conditions again, which are not friendly to us, we will not go along with them."
On the second day of the annual conference, government representatives participated in several important meetings. During a press conference, Finance Secretary Dr. Khairuzzaman Mojumder mentioned that discussions have been held with MIGAR, an affiliate of the World Bank.
To assist exporters and prevent further pressure on reserves, the organization will provide $500 million in financial aid for the Export Development Fund (EDF). Discussions on this matter are ongoing.
In response to a question, government representatives clarified that the increase in customs duties at Chittagong Port is not meant to assist any specific group, but to ensure the quality of service.
The government's representatives expect that in this economic growth scenario during the interim government's tenure, if expatriate income of $3-4 billion per month and export income can be increased, Bangladesh's dependency on loans from donor agencies will decrease significantly.
