Dhaka, April 18 -- Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains "positive" about continuing Bangladesh's loan programme, dismissing reports that talks had reached the point of suspending the remaining tranche disbursements.

He made the remarks in Washington on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings after a meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke.

Asked about reports that the IMF had decided to halt the next tranche, Khosru said no such discussion had taken place.

"Whether the IMF has said no is something they can say," he told reporters.

"How can I say that? As far as I know, there has been no such discussion. We have not even gone to that stage."

The...