IMF positive about sanctioning $3bn more budget support to BD

Finance Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is positive about sanctioning $3bn budget support to the country.

"The IMF wanted to know whether interim governments plan to reform conditions of the $4.7 billion loans," he told a group of journalists at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday.

"I assured them that the implementation of reform works has already started and we will not fail," Saleh Uddin Ahmed added. 

"We hinted that we are interested in another $3 billion budget support, and they are very positive. I will talk with the IMF Managing Director about it in Washington in October at the IMF board meeting," he added. 

The finance adviser said the IMF's review mission will be conducted in Bangladesh in September.

During the conversation with the journalists, Saleh Uddin said the Rooppur nuclear power plant project will continue. 

"Bangladesh sought two years of extension before starting to repay loans to Russia. The Russian ambassador to Bangladesh is very positive in this regard," he said. 

The finance adviser said the Russian ambassador was worried about continuing the Rooppur project and loan repayment. 

"I assured him that we will repay the loan instalments regularly," he added.

On Thursday (29 August), Resident Representative Jayendu De held a virtual meeting with the finance adviser. 

Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder was also present during the meeting.