Bangladesh: Technical Assistance Report-Interest Rate Corridor Adoption

In August 2023, the IMF South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) undertook a Technical Assistance (TA) Mission at Bangladesh Bank (BB) to advise on the shift from a reserve money targeting monetary policy framework to an interest rate-focused one. This transition, announced by BB for July-December 2023, marks a significant policy shift, and it provides an opportunity to realign BB's governance and operational frameworks with the new monetary policy framework. Crucial to this transition is the amendment of the Bangladesh Bank Order (BBO) to give priority to price stability as the objective of monetary policy, to enhance BB's autonomy and accountability, and to eliminate direct BB lending to priority sectors. These modifications aim to align the governance structure with the objectives of the updated monetary policy framework. The mission suggested several key adjustments to the operational framework, including the implementation of a weekly 7-day Open Market Operation (OMO) at the policy rate; an increase in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) averaging; automatic access to Standing Facilities (SFs), and the harmonization of the legal framework for collateralized liquidity-providing monetary operations. Additionally, the mission proposed future measures to improve short-term liquidity forecasting and interbank market trading. Supportive measures were also recommended, such as normalizing the foreign exchange market with a clear exchange rate policy; engaging in money market development initiatives; participating in the Local Bond Market development project; and revising BB’s communications policy to enhance transparency. These reforms are designed to improve monetary policy transmission so as to support the achievement of BB’s its primary mandate of price stability, as a prerequisite for macroeconomic stability and stable economic growth.