Dhaka, April 22 -- Bangladesh's total external-debt buildup touched US$78.067 billion as of last February, the finance minister apprised parliament Tuesday while outlining their new government's financial-reform recipe.

To a question, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said between the 2008-09 and 2025-26 fiscal years, the previous government had taken external loans amounting to $85.993 billion.

The government has taken a four-tier, targeted plan to reform the country's fragile financial sector and restore economic stability, the finance minister told the House in response to a question from Noakhali-5 MP Mohammad Fakhrul Islam.

"As part of this, a medium-term macroeconomic framework up to the 2028-29 fiscal year has been approved, coordina...