Bangladesh Bank Governor Mostakur Rahman has assured business leaders that the Export Development Fund (EDF) will be increased to 5 billion dollars. The commitment came during a meeting at the central bank on Monday with representatives of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), including its Secretary General Md. Alamgir. He told reporters that the EDF, formed from foreign currency reserves to support exporters, had previously stood at 7 billion dollars but had fallen to about 2.2 billion dollars. Business leaders urged that the fund be raised to 5 billion dollars, and the governor responded positively, promising a gradual increase.

During the meeting, FBCCI representatives also emphasized the need to keep interest rates stable and eventually bring them down to single digits to boost investment and competitiveness in the industrial sector. They called for increased private sector credit flow by reducing government borrowing pressure and ensuring financing for productive sectors. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem added that the EDF reduction had been influenced by IMF conditions and proposed raising it further to 8 billion dollars in the future.

The business community also requested extending the loan default period from three to six months, preventing cross-defaults among related firms, and lengthening loan rescheduling terms from five to ten years. FBCCI further recommended introducing low-interest green financing to promote solar and renewable energy investments.