Bangladesh has formally sought $2.77 billion in project financing and an additional $1 billion in direct budget support from the World Bank for the current financial year, The Business Standard reported on October 22, citing senior Ministry of Finance officials — a combined $3.77 billion request, yaani about Tk46,000 crore (the project financing alone is approximately Tk34,000 crore and the budget support about Tk12,000 crore), aimed at stabilising the financial sector, restoring high economic growth and strengthening institutional capacity.

According to the senior finance ministry officials cited by The Business Standard, the proposed immediate funding will cover crucial liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, comprehensive banking sector reforms and major transport infrastructure projects, while food-security financing will help meet fertiliser import needs. Global conflicts threaten fuel supplies, raising import costs and financial pressures, the report noted — a direct link between the Middle East energy shock and South Asian budgets.

In addition to the current financial year's requests, the government has sought $10 billion in loans over the next three years beyond its regular project allocations — yaani, $10 billion is 1,000 crore dollars spread over three years — under a proposed Resilience, Reform, and Investment Partnership (RRIP) framework, The Business Standard reported.

The proposal was first raised by the prime minister during a bilateral meeting with the World Bank president on 22 September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, and was further discussed, along with project outlines, during the IMF-World Bank annual meetings held in Bangkok on 12-18 October, the report said. Following the summit, a ministry report confirmed that Bangladesh and the World Bank agreed to establish a joint technical team — comprising representatives from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the World Bank and relevant stakeholders — within 60 days to shape the partnership, and the government aims to finalise the agreement by June next year.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, who led a 12-member delegation to the Bangkok meetings, confirmed that negotiations are progressing. 'Discussions are ongoing with the World Bank, and we will continue talks,' he told The Business Standard in Bangkok, clarifying that no final decision has yet been reached.