The disbursement of the fourth tranche of the ongoing $4.7 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been further delayed, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after a session of the finance ministry at the Deputy Commissioners (DC) Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium, he said the proposal to release both the fourth and fifth tranches together will now be placed before the IMF’s executive board in June.
“We have some work to do, and we are not rushing to fulfil the conditions just for the sake of it,” Dr Salehuddin said. “Our macroeconomic situation is stable. The current account, financial account, and remittance inflows are in good shape. We are not desperate.”
When asked whether the proposal would be placed before the IMF board in March, he replied: “Not in March. We have decided to wait a little longer. The fourth and fifth instalment proposal will be submitted together in June.”
Initially, the fourth tranche was scheduled to be reviewed by the IMF board on February 5, with the funds expected to be released that month. It was later postponed to March 12. Now, it will be taken up in June, and if approved, both tranches could be disbursed shortly afterwards, he added.
Bangladesh signed the $4.7 billion loan agreement with the IMF in 2022, with the funds to be released in seven instalments. The first tranche was disbursed in January 2023, followed by two more tranches, the latest of which was released in June last year. No further disbursements have taken place since the formation of the interim government.
