Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday said Bangladesh will negotiate a new programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that safeguards public interest and the country’s economic security, stressing that the government will not accept any conditions detrimental to the people.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat, he said the government is not primarily concerned with securing IMF funds but with protecting Bangladesh’s economic interests.

“We will enter into a new programme that ensures the economic interests of the people. Whatever programme we undertake, the interests of the people of Bangladesh will remain fully protected,” he said.

Khasru criticised the previous IMF-supported programme negotiated by the former government, describing it as “entirely against public interest”. According to him, the programme contained several conditions that were unacceptable for a democratic and elected government.

He said the current government has decided to move away from the previous arrangement because of those conditions, adding that no future agreement will compromise the country’s economic sovereignty or public welfare.

The minister said the government’s priority is to protect the interests of both the people and the national economy while maintaining constructive engagement with international financial institutions.

During the briefing, he also outlined the government’s broader plans regarding economic development, political stability and international financial cooperation.

Expressing deep sorrow at the death of eminent politician, senior lawyer, former Speaker of Parliament and former Acting President Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Khosru described him as an honest and capable politician whose contributions to Bangladesh’s politics were immense.

He said Jamiruddin Sircar had discharged his responsibilities as Speaker with integrity and dedication, adding that his death was an irreparable loss to the country’s political arena.

The minister also announced that the government plans to revise Bangladesh’s visa policy as part of its efforts to build a modern and globally connected economy.

He said the existing visa regime needs to be simplified and modernised to make Bangladesh more accessible to foreign visitors and investors.

According to the minister, a more business-friendly and efficient visa policy will help attract more foreign tourists, facilitate foreign investment and strengthen international confidence in Bangladesh.