The visit of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation to Bangladesh ends today, Thursday (April 17). A press briefing is scheduled at Bangladesh Bank in the afternoon to summarize the outcomes of the visit. According to economists and business leaders, timely implementation of IMF’s reform conditions is essential to ensure sustainability of the country’s economy.

Although the IMF team reviewed progress on conditions for releasing the fourth and fifth tranches of the $4.7 billion loan package, they remain unconvinced by the government’s efforts in meeting key benchmarks, such as adopting a market-based exchange rate and improving tax collection. These shortcomings have delayed disbursement of the fourth installment. The delegation arrived in Dhaka on April 5 and closely assessed reforms in key sectors.

This time, IMF placed emphasis on fiscal deficits, budget structure, enhanced revenue generation, and reforming the banking sector. Economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the IMF believes Bangladesh’s economy is on the right track, and the upcoming review report by the delegation will be crucial in unlocking further funds, potentially in June.

Experts say that the IMF’s tough stance is not unexpected, given the fragile condition of the economy. According to economist Dr. Helal Uddin, Bangladesh must maintain stability in macroeconomic indicators such as foreign exchange reserves and currency value to keep the economy on a positive trajectory.

Business leaders echoed similar sentiments, stating that fulfilling IMF conditions—especially improving revenue collection—would naturally enhance the business environment. Syed Ershad Ahmed, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham), highlighted the need to reduce delays in clearing duty-free goods to facilitate trade.

So far, under the loan agreement signed in 2023, Bangladesh has received $476.2 million in the first installment, $682 million in the second, and $1.15 billion in the third.