Dhaka: Bangladesh and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to begin work on a new three-year reform programme aimed at ensuring reforms are realistic, phased, and implementable within Bangladesh's current economic realities. The understanding was reached during a virtual meeting held on May 21 between Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke, said a press release today. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussions centered on Bangladesh's macroeconomic situation, progress under the existing IMF-supported program, and the framework for future cooperation. During the meeting, the Finance Minister reiterated the government's commitment to preserving macroeconomic stability and continuing structural reforms. However, he noted that the current IMF program had been adopted under different domestic and global conditions, while evolving political economy dynamics and international uncertainties have complicated the implementation of severa l reform measures. He emphasized that the government remains committed to reforms but favours a realistic and sequenced approach that reflects Bangladesh's present economic and institutional context. In this regard, he proposed a new three-year programme under the newly elected government that would prioritize practical reforms through step-by-step implementation. Nigel Clarke welcomed the government's reform agenda and expressed optimism that constructive engagement between Bangladesh and the IMF would continue. Both sides agreed on the need for a feasible and implementable new IMF programme and decided to move forward quickly with related preparations. The Finance Minister also referred to discussions held during the recent World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings 2026 in Washington, D.C., noting that the government had since conducted internal reviews based on those engagements. The meeting concluded with both parties expressing commitment to ensuring the success of the proposed reform programme through pra ctical and timely implementation.
