Talks are under way on getting an additional $10 billion in loan support from the World Bank, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said. No final decision has been reached on the matter yet. Completing the talks and the steps that follow may take several more months.
The finance minister was answering journalists’ questions on Tuesday after a meeting with the World Bank’s managing director in Bangkok, Thailand.
“No decision is being taken here. This is a discussion. The next steps will be taken on the basis of this discussion. It is a process that will go on over the coming months,” Amir Khasru said.
He said the discussion is laying the basis for deciding what the two sides should do in future and for possible decisions. Talks on the matter will continue in Dhaka as well.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress of the talks, the finance minister said the World Bank is in agreement with Bangladesh’s economic policy and programmes and its medium- and long-term development plans. The bank also agrees with the policies the government has adopted to establish economic stability and move on from the present situation.
He said the country’s economy was in crisis when the present government took office. Besides various liabilities from the earlier period, it is also having to deal with the economic disruption caused by wars going on around the world. The World Bank understands these matters.
“The World Bank is very keen to stand by Bangladesh. It agrees fully with the policy we have adopted, and with the economic programme and course we have set for the days ahead after restoring economic stability,” the finance minister said.
Amir Khasru said the framework of the partnership with the World Bank is also being discussed. Bangladesh has submitted a written proposal on it. The World Bank has given various recommendations and advice, and Bangladesh has set out its own proposals.
Asked about the forecasts of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for inflation and growth in gross domestic product (GDP), the finance minister said the government does not want to dispute any other body’s projections. The institutions have made these forecasts on the basis of their own calculations and analysis.
He added that the government is working to achieve the economic targets set in the budget, and expects that the projections given in the budget can be met.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report