A four-member BNP delegation held a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sunday and discussed various issues, including reforms in the financial and social sectors.

The meeting was held at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. Chris Papageorgiou led the IMF team, while BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury led the BNP delegation.

The other members were BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council members Md Ismail Zabihullah and Dr Ziauddin Hyder, and BNP Organising Secretary Shama Obaed.

Both sides discussed the preliminary findings of the IMF’s ongoing mission review report.

The key issues of discussions included value-added tax (VAT) harmonisation and the reduction of exemptions under a new technical assistance programme, increasing corporate tax to improve the GDP-to-tax revenue ratio, reforming the banking sector, and raising social sector spending, which the BNP delegation highlighted as one of the party’s key policy priorities, the party sources said.

The BNP delegation stressed that reforms in the financial, tax, and social sectors are essential to ensure sustainable economic stability in Bangladesh. “They said the BNP believes that long-term growth is not possible without an accountable and transparent financial management system.”

He said the IMF team appreciated the BNP’s reform-focused policy priorities and constructive approach.
The meeting ended with both sides expressing hope for continued policy dialogue and greater cooperation in the future.