Dhaka, June 4 -- Bangladesh has formally requested a new loan programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), seeking to move beyond the lending arrangement approved under the ousted Sheikh Hasina government.

The request was made through a letter seeking a new IMF-supported financial arrangement to back the country's economic reform agenda, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by IMF Mission Chief for Bangladesh Ivo Krznar.

The statement did not specify how much financing Bangladesh has sought.

"The Bangladeshi authorities have requested a new IMF financial arrangement to support their economic reform programme," Krznar said.

"IMF staff are engaging with the authorities on their reform agenda and policy priorities as par...