IMF will continue to support Bangladesh on the road to prosperity

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has pledged to continue helping build a prosperous, top-income Bangladesh by 2041. IMF Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Moncio Sayeh, who is visiting Bangladesh, said this during a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Monday (January 16). Later, the Prime Minister's speech writer. Nazrul Islam briefed the journalists.

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The Deputy Managing Director of the IMF said that Bangladesh wants to become a developed-rich and high-income country by 2041. The IMF will continue to support these aspirations. Antoinette Monceau said the IMF has a longstanding partnership with Bangladesh. The IMF nurtures this partnership with care. I am here to strengthen that partnership. The IMF Deputy Managing Director said that the whole world is facing challenges due to the terrible impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the difficult situation of the Russia-Ukraine war. In this situation, emerging economies like Bangladesh are facing various dangers; Especially inflationary pressures, rising commodity prices and foreign exchange reserve problems.

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Antoinette Monceau promised that the IMF will stand by Bangladesh's efforts to deal with these problems. Referring to the impact of the Corona epidemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the progress of the state has been somewhat slowed down due to the Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine conflict and sanctions and counter-sanctions. Highlighting the increase in assistance for low-income people to save them from the effect of the increase in commodity prices, the Prime Minister said that Bangladesh is also facing problems due to the increase in commodity prices. The government has expanded social safety nets and food aid programs to help low-income people.

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Sheikh Hasina said that the government has undertaken development programs targeting poverty alleviation and achieving food security. The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh has taken the initiative to bring all uncultivated land under cultivation to increase food production. Low-income people are suffering because of high inflation, he said, even in many developed countries. Stating that Bangladesh has sought assistance from the IMF as an advance measure, the Prime Minister said, "We have sought assistance from the IMF as an advance measure, not for bailout." The Deputy Managing Director of the IMF appreciated the socio-economic development of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said that Bangladesh has maintained 6 percent growth in the last decade.

During the meeting of IMF Deputy Managing Director with the Prime Minister, women empowerment, humanitarian education, community clinic and ICT camp were discussed. At that time, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Professor Dr. Gauhar Rizvi, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. Tofazzal Hossain Miah, Abdur Rauf Talukdar of Bangladesh Bank, Senior Finance Secretary Fatima Yasmin and IMF Resident Representative in Dhaka Jayendu Dey.

During the meeting, the IMF representative handed over two photographs to the Prime Minister from the time Bangladesh became a member of the IMF on August 17, 1972.