Play store
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday said Bangladesh expects increased financial support from the United States as bilateral relations improve and imports from the country grow.
He made the remarks while briefing journalists after a meeting with US Treasury Department officials.
The discussions covered debt management, US assistance and overall bilateral relations. The minister also met representatives of the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) and other agencies involved in providing assistance.
“Bangladesh did not receive much support from the United States in the past. But our relations have improved, and we are buying aircraft and importing oil, soybeans and various other products from the US. So, we should receive additional support,” Amir Khosru said, adding that the US side had agreed with Bangladesh’s position.
He said the government’s economic policy prioritises reducing dependence on loans and attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI) and joint investment.
“Our main focus is investment. We want to move away from loans and focus more on direct investment and joint investment,” he said.
The minister said he had held extensive discussions with EXIM Bank representatives on the issue and expressed optimism about advancing the approach.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s substantial imports from the US, he said the purchases should be considered in the context of bilateral trade and the country’s balance of payments.
“If support does not come from the US now, when will it come? The assistance we expect should come now,” he said.
Amir Khosru said the relevant US representatives had agreed with Bangladesh’s position, but the scale and form of the expected assistance would become clearer in the coming days.
