IMF satisfied with Bangladesh's reform progress but flags key challenges: Salehuddin

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today (18 November) said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed satisfaction with Bangladesh's ongoing economic reforms, although reiterated concerns over several structural challenges that require closer attention.

"They said the situation is overall good, but they are monitoring the challenges. We are working under a plan, but they feel that taking some steps a little faster would bring better outcomes," he told reporters after meetings of the Advisers Council Committee on Economic Affairs and the Committee on Government Purchase at the Secretariat.

He noted that the IMF is particularly concerned about the speed of policy implementation, especially surrounding interest rate adjustments.

"Increasing the policy rate by the central bank cannot be done suddenly. Everyone knows that. We have to ensure supply-side improvements at the same time," he said.

Dr Salehuddin also mentioned that the IMF has raised issues related to the banking sector.

"They have taken five banks under observation, which they consider a major challenge," he said, adding that the government needs to undertake tough reforms to strengthen financial governance.

On revenue administration, the adviser said the IMF is satisfied with the current progress of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) but expects reforms to continue steadily. "The process has become principled but manpower restructuring and capacity enhancement will take time," he said.

He added that while it may not be possible to achieve a complete turnaround within the current government's tenure, substantial groundwork and structural preparations would be completed.

"We may not reach the final conclusion, but the logical framework and preparatory work will be done," he assured.

Responding to a question on whether the IMF has set any new conditions, Dr Salehuddin said no fresh conditions were imposed.

"This was more like a consultation. They expressed satisfaction with the measures we have taken so far. The economic situation is largely under control, and the remaining time will be used for consolidation," he said.

The $4.7 billion IMF loan programme, approved in January 2023, aims to support Bangladesh's economic stability, strengthen fiscal reforms, and enhance resilience amid global economic pressures.

Several tranches have already been disbursed, while further instalments remain tied to policy performance benchmarks and structural reforms.

The IMF will delay disbursing the sixth tranche until the next national election and the newly elected government assumes office.

The interim government that assumed power on 8 August  2024, three days after the Awami League regime was ousted amid a mass uprising, announced that the next general election would be held in February.

Finance ministry officials said that they are expecting the release of the sixth and seventh tranches in June 2026.  

On June 23, the IMF approved the release of the fourth and fifth tranches amounting to $1.3 billion, taking the overall amount of disbursement to $3.6 billion.

In June 2025, the IMF also increased the overall loan amount to $5.5 billion from $4.7 billion under the loan programme that began in 2023 under the AL regime in 2023 to meet the balance of payment shortage.  

The programme period has also been extended by six months to 27 January 2027, from July 2026, following requests from Dhaka.

The interim government has already reduced the balance of payment pressure.

Driven by higher remittance and export earnings, the country's gross foreign exchange reserves increased to $32 billion on October 16, the highest in 31 months.

The latest IMF mission is also linked to the Article IV report, an annual consultation with its member countries on the overall economy, on Bangladesh.