The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Bangladesh’s inflation rate will fall below 8.5% by June this year. This information was shared by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, on Tuesday, April 8. He stated that the visiting IMF delegation expressed satisfaction with the country’s macroeconomic and inflation trends during ongoing discussions with the central bank.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), overall inflation rose to 9.35% in March, compared to 9.32% in February and 9.94% in January. Arif Hossain Khan explained that the IMF believes inflation will decrease further due to coordinated efforts by relevant government bodies—not solely the responsibility of the central bank. He also noted that the IMF team’s positive demeanor and lack of critical questioning indicated their approval.

Regarding foreign reserves, he clarified that the current figures are calculated in line with IMF guidelines, eliminating the risk of double-counting—something the IMF has also acknowledged positively. On the issue of liquidity in the banking sector, he said six out of eleven struggling banks have shown improvement and no longer need central bank support, though five still remain financially weak.

As part of its $4.7 billion loan program, Bangladesh is due to receive $2.39 billion in the fourth tranche, pending review of the program’s progress. The IMF team, currently visiting Dhaka since April 6, is holding meetings with various ministries and will conclude their review with a final briefing on April 17. Analysts emphasize that reducing inflation will require effective policy coordination, stronger market monitoring, and efforts to stabilize the supply of essential commodities.