Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, during his visit to Dhaka, expressed interest in hiring more Bangladeshi workers and ensuring safe migration. In his meeting with Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Matteo stated that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may visit Bangladesh before September to boost bilateral ties. He praised the Bangladeshi community in Italy and called for more such responsible migrants. Prof. Yunus assured Italy of Bangladesh’s commitment to combat illegal migration and human trafficking through joint efforts.

In April, Bangladesh received $2.75 billion in remittance, the second-highest monthly figure recorded by the Bangladesh Bank. The remittance amounted to approximately BDT 33,574 crore, reflecting a 34.64% increase compared to the previous year. The remittance for the first 10 months of the current fiscal year has increased by 28.30%.

After a meeting with the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Vice President, Salehuddin Ahmed, the Economic Adviser to the government, reported that the ADB is pleased with Bangladesh's economic achievements compared to other countries. The ADB confirmed its support for reforms in the banking sector and National Board of Revenue (NBR), along with providing necessary assistance for the government’s realistic and achievable budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Salehuddin emphasized the importance of reducing expenditures and improving efficiency.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan has announced a tougher stance on individuals who evade taxes, do not file returns, or exploit tax exemptions. He emphasized the need for accountability, revealing that the government loses as much revenue from tax exemptions as it collects annually. NBR data shows a large number of TIN holders fail to submit tax returns, placing an unfair burden on regular taxpayers.

Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, stated that Bangladesh may withdraw from its loan agreement with the IMF if excessive conditions are imposed. Accepting all terms could further weaken the economy. If new conditions are attached to the next tranche of the $4.7 billion loan, Bangladesh will reconsider continuing the agreement.

The Indian government has imposed an immediate ban on all imports, direct or indirect, from Pakistan. Pakistani vessels are also prohibited from docking at Indian ports. A Commerce Ministry notice stated the ban was enacted in the interest of national security and public policy. The Wagah-Attari trade route was shut down after the Pahalgam attack, though limited indirect trade continued until now. The trade volume, however, was minimal.

India has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reassess its loan support to Pakistan. Last year, Pakistan received a critical $7 billion bailout to stabilize its economy. In March, the IMF approved an additional $1.3 billion for climate resilience projects. India has expressed concerns regarding the effective utilization and transparency of these funds.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, has stated that the next seven months are critical for the nation’s economic future. “This period could either build Bangladesh or break it,” he wrote. The interim government has adopted an ambitious plan to increase the capacity of Chattogram Port sixfold. Alam stressed that such progress is only possible through partnerships with top global port operators. “If successful, this will send a strong message to international investors that Bangladesh is open for business.” He also noted that the global economic order born out of the Bretton Woods system is fading, suggesting that now might finally be Bangladesh’s time — if politics allows it.

Bangladesh repaid more than $3 billion in foreign debt during the first nine months of the 2024–25 fiscal year, with $2.01 billion in principal and $1.2 billion in interest, according to an ERD report. Total loan inflows during the period were about $4.81 billion, with the largest disbursements from the ADB ($1.22B), World Bank ($1.07B), and Japan ($890M). Meanwhile, the country received fresh aid commitments totaling $3 billion, a sharp drop from $7.24 billion in the same period last year.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves stood at $27.41 billion at the end of April, with the IMF-compliant BPM6 method showing reserves at $22.05 billion. Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Arif Hossain Khan expressed confidence that IMF targets for June will be met. April saw record remittance inflows of $3.29 billion, the highest in the country’s history.

Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh will negotiate with the United States over retaliatory tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. “We won’t provoke the U.S., but we have 90 days to resolve this issue through dialogue,” he said. He also urged businesses to become more competitive and assured that the upcoming budget would be realistic and implementable.

A report by Bangladesh Bank reveals that Islami Bank’s Gulshan branch approved a staggering Tk 950 crore loan in the name of a Nabil Group-affiliated trading company called “Market Master Analyzer” — a company that central bank inspectors confirmed does not exist. Although the loan was approved under a single name, only Tk 550 crore was deposited into Nabil Group’s account. The remaining Tk 400 crore was transferred to S. Alam Group.

In another case, a private bank approved a Tk 90 crore loan in the name of a company under the Uttara Group. However, the funds were rerouted through several accounts and ultimately ended up in one controlled by Beximco Group, which later withdrew the money. Meanwhile, Nasa Group secured Tk 200 crore from its own bank, Exim Bank, by using a shell company.

NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan cautioned against excessive borrowing, comparing it to “Goni Mia”—a metaphor for financial mismanagement. He stressed the need for aligning expenditures with revenue to avoid burdening future generations with debt. He added that the upcoming budget should be realistic, not overly ambitious, as directed by the Chief and Finance Advisers.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed stated that Bangladesh is prepared to draft its budget independently if the IMF does not release its loan installment. He emphasized that the country is no longer dependent on the IMF or World Bank and cannot fully comply with IMF demands, such as letting the foreign exchange rate float freely. Doing so, he warned, could lead to volatility similar to Pakistan or Sri Lanka. He clarified that discussions are ongoing, and even without IMF funding, the country’s reserves remain stable.

Bangladesh’s delegation, led by Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed, held multiple meetings with World Bank and IMF officials. The U.S. has asked Bangladesh to detail its plans for resolving tariff issues and trade deficits by increasing imports from America, including offering tariff-free access to select products. The IMF has demanded clear actions on making the currency exchange rate more flexible, increasing revenue collection, and reforming the banking sector before releasing further loan installments.