Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that the government will not accept any International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions that obstruct the protection of public interests. Speaking at his office in the Finance Ministry on Sunday after returning from the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings held in Washington from April 13 to 18, he said the IMF loan program was initiated during the Awami League’s tenure. He noted that while the program includes many conditions, some may not be acceptable to the current BNP-led elected government.

The minister clarified that the IMF program taken under the Awami League government will conclude in six to seven months, and any decision on a new program will be made later. Responding to questions about whether the introduction of the Family Card might affect IMF loan disbursement or conditions, he said the Family Card has no link to the IMF loan and has been widely praised for delivering economic benefits to the poor.

He emphasized that no donor agency’s conditions will be fulfilled at the expense of public welfare, and that development partners have positively received the Family Card initiative.