Bangladesh government has sought US$2 billion budget assistance from international lenders.

As updated by the Finance Ministry, lenders provided a total of US$ 1.77 billion in FY 2022-23. The highest amount received as budget support was US$ 2.6 billion in FY 2021-22, up from US$ 1.09 billion in the previous fiscal year and US$ 1 billion in FY 2019-20.

In the last fiscal year, Bangladesh has received a total of US$11.09 billion under budget support from foreign sources.

ERD officials say the government now needs about US$10 billion per year in foreign aid. Some US$7–8 billion comes from foreign loans with both hard and flexible terms. The rest comes in the form of help. However, asking for assistance through budget support is the fastest way to increase the flow of dollars because the money is released immediately after approval.

*This report appeared on the print and online editions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ashish Basu.

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