NEWS DESK 

Bangladesh is seeking $700 million in financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis.

"We are currently assessing the government's request to the IMF for emergency financing,” Ragnar Gudmundsson, the fund's representative in Dhaka confirmed the matter to media. 

The plea coincides with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's announcement on Sunday of a $9.0 billion stimulus package, equal to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product, aimed at cushioning the economic blow from the lockdown induced by the coronavirus outbreak.

More to follow...........