Dhaka, April 30 -- Foreign loan disbursement has dropped by 19 percent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared with the same period a year earlier.

Between July and March of the 2025-26 fiscal, development partners and international lenders released $3.89 billion in loans and grants.

Data released by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) on Thursday shows this is a significant slide from the $4.80 billion disbursed during the corresponding months of the previous financial year.

The government has had to shell out $3.52 billion to settle interest and principal on existing debts during this period.

This marks an increase from the $3.21 billion paid out in the same timeframe last year.

Following the ousting of the A...