Time Digital Report: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) assured of continuing support to Bangladesh to be a developed and higher-income country by 2041.

IMF Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Monsio Sayeh made this assurance at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban in Dhaka.

PM's speech writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.

"Bangladesh hopes to become a developed, prosperous and higher-income country by 2041. The IMF will continue to support these aspirations," the IMF official was quoted as saying.

She said the IMF has a long-standing partnership with Bangladesh. "The IMF cherishes this partnership. I have come here to strengthen the partnership further,” Antoinette Sayeh told the prime minister.

She said the whole world faces challenges due to the staggering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and a difficult situation because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

In this situation, the emerging economies like Bangladesh's are facing different problems, particularly inflationary pressure, price-hike of commodities and the reserve of foreign currencies, said the IMF deputy managing director.

The IMF will stay beside Bangladesh's efforts to face these problems, she said.

PM Hasina said the pace of the country's progress has slowed down due to the Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine war and resulting sanctions and counter-sanctions.

SK