On March 23, a high-level delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Krishna Srinivasan, will visit Dhaka for crucial discussions regarding Bangladesh’s economic reforms. The delegation aims to assess the country’s progress on key economic measures essential for the release of the next $1.3 billion loan tranche in June.
During the visit, the IMF team will meet with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman. The talks will focus on the pace of reform implementation and the new government’s economic priorities, including making the exchange rate more market-based and increasing revenue collection.
The IMF loan program for Bangladesh, initially valued at $4.7 billion and increased to $5.5 billion in May 2024, has seen mixed progress. While some conditions, such as the primary budget deficit target, have been met, others like revenue collection and banking sector restructuring lag behind.
As global economic uncertainties persist, maintaining the IMF program is crucial for Bangladesh. Economists warn that a weak assessment by the IMF could affect access to multilateral loans and budget support. Future discussions may explore extending the program timeline or seeking additional financial assistance.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 18, 2026
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