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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s ongoing economic reform agenda and endorsed the government’s gradual approach to implementing structural reforms, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with IMF Mission Chief for Bangladesh and Hong Kong, Ivo Krznar, at the Finance Ministry, the minister said the discussions were constructive and reinforced the IMF’s support for the government’s phased reform strategy.
“The government presented its reform strategy based on a gradual and well-sequenced approach, stressing that major economic reforms cannot be implemented overnight. The IMF agreed with the government’s phased reform plan, recognising the need to align policy implementation with prevailing economic realities and national priorities,” he said.
According to a Finance Ministry press release, both sides reviewed progress under the IMF-supported programme and discussed the next phase of economic cooperation.
Khosru said the government had made it clear that protecting people’s welfare remains the central objective of all economic reforms and policy decisions.
He noted that the IMF appreciated the progress achieved over the past four months, particularly in financial sector reforms, capital market development and revenue mobilisation.
The global lender also acknowledged the government’s efforts to strengthen revenue collection within a relatively short period, he said.
Improving Bangladesh’s tax-to-GDP ratio was another key issue discussed during the meeting, with both sides recognising its importance in ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability and strengthening public finances.
On the issue of subsidies, the finance minister said no specific conditions or decisions had yet been finalised, explaining that the current discussions were focused primarily on establishing the overall policy framework rather than negotiating detailed programme conditionalities.
Describing the engagement as an ongoing process, Khosru said the next round of talks with the IMF is expected to take place on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings scheduled for September or October.
He expressed optimism that the IMF’s positive assessment of the government’s reform efforts would facilitate future economic programmes and further strengthen Bangladesh’s partnership with the Washington-based lender.
