The International Monetary Fund and the National Citizen Party have highlighted the importance of reforms in economy and governance to prevent kleptocracy that ‘flourished in the ousted Awami League regime’.
Chris Papageorgiou, the IMF mission chief for Bangladesh, and Javed Rasin, NCP joint convener, led their respective delegations in a bilateral discussion at a Dhaka hotel on Friday.
The NCP expressed gratitude to the IMF for its continued support to Bangladesh during the post-Hasina critical period, said a press release signed by NCP media cell organiser and joint member secretary Mushfiq Us Salehin.
The discussion covered how the kleptocracy emerged under the previous Awami League regime and its impact on the economy and governance.
Other key topics discussed included reducing the size of the informal economy, ensuring good governance and transparency, and the importance of a smooth and peaceful transition of power to the next elected government, the release said.
During the meeting, the IMF expressed concerns regarding Bangladesh’s gross domestic product growth, revenue mobilisation, revenue-to-GDP ratio, distressed assets, and youth employment.
The NCP representatives reaffirmed their commitment to advancing revenue digitalisation, supporting ongoing financial-sector reforms and addressing concerns about the slow implementation of certain reform measures.
IMF resident representative in Dhaka, Maximum Kryshko, and deputy secretary and economic analyst Tawhid Ilahi, NCP’s foreign affairs cell organiser Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, joint member secretary Alauddin Mohammad, co-organiser for industry and commerce cell, Abdullah Al Mamun Faisal, among others, were present, according to the press release.