DHAKA, April 6, 2025 (BSS) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had acknowledged the progress in ongoing reforms initiated by Bangladesh Bank (BB).
 
"The IMF delegation expressed concern over the country's revenue collection performance but acknowledged progress in ongoing reforms initiated by the Bangladesh Bank Policy rate to be lowered if inflation falls below 8 percent," said BB Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.
 
Arif Hossain Khan said this after a meeting between BB Governor Ahsan H Mansur and IMF visiting delegation led by led by Mission Chief Chris Papageorgiou at BB headquarters in the city.
 
During the meeting, Arif Hossain Khan said the Bangladesh Bank has informed the IMF that the central bank will consider lowering the policy rate once inflation drops below 8 percent.
 
"In response to the IMF's query, the governor noted that inflation is expected to come down to 8.2 percent by June, according to projections from both the Bangladesh Bank and the IMF," he added.
 
Later in the day, the IMF delegation held separate meetings with various departments of the central bank. One of the sessions focused on the liquidity status of domestic banks. 
 
"The delegation specifically asked about the liquidity situation in 12 banks. The governor responded that, following liquidity support measures, only five banks are currently facing a liquidity crisis, while the others have recovered," Arif said.
 
The IMF team also inquired whether banks currently facing liquidity challenges are still issuing loans. 
 
"The governor clarified that while these banks have ceased issuing regular loans, they are offering limited lending-primarily to SMEs and the agriculture sector-under various refinance schemes facilitated by the central bank," the BB spokesperson said.
 
Topics such as non-performing loans, foreign reserves, and the exchange rate were not discussed in today's meeting, he added.