Published: 07:12 AM, 14 July 2026
‘Bangladesh to consider IMF partnership only if public interest is protected’
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said that any future partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would be pursued only if it safeguards public interest and protects the country's economic security. "The government would not join any IMF programme that goes against the interests of the people," he said while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, said a press release.
Referring to the previous IMF programme undertaken by the former government, the minister said that it included a number of conditions that the present elected government considered inconsistent with its policy priorities and, therefore, decided to withdraw from that arrangement.
He said the government's objective is not merely to secure external financing but to ensure economic stability while protecting the interests of the people.
Any future engagement with the IMF, he added, would be based on terms that fully safeguard Bangladesh's national interests.
The minister also said the government is working to modernise the country's visa policy as part of its broader vision of building a modern Bangladesh. He said the existing visa regime would be simplified to facilitate greater tourist arrivals, attract foreign investment and strengthen international confidence in Bangladesh's economy.
During the briefing, Amir Khosru also expressed deep sorrow at the death of Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, former Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad and former Acting President of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh secured a US$4.7 billion IMF support package in early 2023 and received US$3.64 billion in five instalments before the release of the sixth tranche stalled because key reform conditions remained unmet.
The government formally sought a new US$4-4.5 billion, three-year programme in June.
Amir Khosru said the government is now working towards a new IMF arrangement that aligns with its own economic priorities while preserving national sovereignty and protecting the interests of citizens. The finance minister also unveiled plans to modernise Bangladesh's visa policy as part of the government's broader vision of building a more open and competitive economy. He said the existing visa regime would be simplified to encourage greater tourist arrivals, attract higher levels of foreign investment and strengthen international confidence in Bangladesh.
"To build a modern Bangladesh, we need a modern visa policy," he said, adding that easier visa procedures would improve the country's global image and make Bangladesh a more attractive destination for business and tourism.
During the briefing, Amir Khosru expressed profound grief over the death of former Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad and former Acting President Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, describing him as an honest, capable and principled statesman.
"He discharged his responsibilities with integrity and dedication. His immense contribution to Bangladesh's political history will always be remembered. His passing is an irreparable loss to the nation's political landscape," the minister said.
He described Jamiruddin Sircar as a capable and principled statesman, saying his contributions to the country's politics would be remembered with respect and that his death is an irreparable loss to the nation.
