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- Dhaka has sought $4.5B from IMF, additional $10B from World Bank, Finance Ministry adviser tells Anadolu - If approved, it would mark 1st such loans under Tarique Rahman's government since he took office in February this year
By Faisal Mahmud
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh has sought $14.5 billion in fresh financing from the IMF and World Bank, an official told Anadolu, as the government struggles with mounting fiscal pressures, weak revenue collection, and persistent economic challenges.
If approved, it would be the first new IMF loan program under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's government, which took office in February 2026 following the country's first general election since the 2024 uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, an adviser to the finance minister, told Anadolu that Dhaka has sought a new $4.5 billion IMF program and an additional $10 billion from the World Bank over three years, confirming that negotiations on both proposals are underway.
The government is seeking financing arrangements tailored to Bangladesh's economic needs rather than conventional lending terms, amid growing pressure on public finances.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has also stressed the need for flexible financing to address structural weaknesses in the economy.
Bangladesh's previous IMF program was approved in January 2023 under Hasina's government. Initially worth $4.7 billion, the program was later expanded to approximately $5.5 billion.
Bangladesh faces persistent inflation, banking-sector vulnerabilities, mounting energy subsidies, and one of the world's lowest tax-to-GDP ratios.
The government has also outlined a 600 billion taka ($4.9 billion) stimulus initiative aimed at supporting businesses and reviving economic activity.
Titumir said Bangladesh had presented a “country-specific reform agenda” addressing banking weaknesses, energy pressures, and challenges surrounding its graduation from least developed country status.
The government aims to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio from below 7% to 10% over five years while restoring banking stability and stimulating private investment, Titumir told Anadolu.
