Many countries have sought financial assistance from Bangladesh after the country offered a currency swap to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Sunday.
According to the Daily Tribunal, Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina revealed that many countries communicated with her to get the same kind of assistance from Bangladesh.
“We have assisted Sri Lanka from our (forex) reserve. After that, I have received requests from many countries,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at the Secretaries’ Committee Meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s Office.
In May 2021, Bangladesh cleared a USD 200 million currency swap for Sri Lanka, to help boost its economy.
It was the first-ever loan to any country from Bangladesh, given under the currency swap agreement inked by Bangladesh Bank and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, on August 3.
“Many government heads have called me and I have talked to them. I have described to them the ground reality. We are formulating our budget, and taking budgetary support from other sources. At this time, it will not be possible for us to give any kind of assistance,” she said.
Mentioning that it means many countries across the globe are facing a forex reserve crisis, she said, “… We must practice austerity with urgency.