REJAUL KARIM BYRON

Bangladesh has secured assurances of substantial financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and other multilateral lenders to tackle the energy crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

“I believe we will get the package [to recover from the energy shock], and things are moving positively. I expect Bangladesh will receive an improved package,” Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington on Thursday night (Bangladesh time). He did not say how much Bangladesh may receive.

Leading an 11-member delegation, the minister has held a series of meetings with the IMF, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other donor agencies over the past four days.

Officials in the delegation said Bangladesh pressed for additional funds to cover the shortfall caused by the energy crisis, beyond regular budget support.

Speaking to journalists, Amir Khosru said that the energy crisis was a common topic in all meetings. “We need support here. This concern has been raised in meetings with the IMF, World Bank, and other multilateral bodies. The discussions have been very positive, but we must wait to see what the package will be.”

He added that talks with development partners will continue, with their teams expected to visit Bangladesh. “My impression is that we will get the package,” he said.

Meanwhile, Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, said discussions on additional financial support for Bangladesh are ongoing.

Responding to a question on the “We A

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