Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has dismissed speculation that disbursement of the final International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan tranche has been stalled, stressing that constructive discussions are on. Speaking on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, he said negotiations are progressing positively, with both sides working to resolve outstanding issues ahead of the next programme review.
He described the ongoing negotiations as a "work in progress" with no negative yet.
Speaking to journalists on Friday after a meeting with senior IMF officials, the minister addressed recent media reports suggesting that the multilateral lender had "blocked" an upcoming instalment under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
"Those who have written negatively about the loan must provide their own answers. No such discussion took place, nor have we reached a stage where an instalment is being blocked," the minister said, maintaining that the government remains confident of securing the remaining funds.
He described his meetings with the World Bank President and IMF officials as "highly positive", asserting that the lenders' objectives are broadly aligned with the economic pledges made in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) election manifesto.
"There is no disagreement on the issues aligned with our manifesto. Our international partners are supporting the new government's vision," he said, adding that various arms of the institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), are keen to assist in reforming the country's struggling banking sector.
While a significant number of conditions have already been met, the finance minister acknowledged that several "unresolved issues" remain under discussion.
He emphasised that these complexities cannot be resolved overnight and that the process remains ongoing.
The government expects to reach a consensus on pending issues through discussions over the next 15 to 20 days, he said. "This is not a matter for a one-hour or one-day decision. The dialogue will continue beyond the next fortnight. It is a continuous process."
Regarding the ECF tranches, the minister noted a "prevailing sense of positivity" among stakeholders.
His comments come at a time when the new administration is seeking to stabilise the macroeconomy and restore confidence in the financial sector, with the next formal review of the IMF programme expected to be a critical milestone for the country's credit outlook.
Bangladesh signed a $4.7 billion loan agreement with the IMF on January 30, 2023, amid economic strain triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The IMF later extended the programme by six months in June last year and added $800 million, bringing the total package to $5.5 billion.
So far, Bangladesh has received $3.64 billion under five tranches: $476.3 million in February 2023, $681 million in December 2023, $1.15 billion in June 2024, and $1.33 billion in June 2025, leaving $1.86 billion yet to be disbursed.
The IMF had been due to release another tranche last December but withheld it pending discussions with an elected government.
A 14-member delegation, led by Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, is attending the event. The team includes 11 members from Bangladesh, while three others joined the delegation in Washington.
Finance Secretary DrMdKhairuzzamanMozumder, NBR Chairman MdAbdur Rahman Khan, Bangladesh Bank Governor MdMostaqur Rahman, ERD Secretary MdShahriar Kader Siddiky, and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions are part of the delegation.
Several business leaders, including Basumati Group Chairman ZM Golam Nabi (CIP), are also attending the high-level gathering.
The Spring Meetings began on April 13 and are scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
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