The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a preliminary agreement to provide Bangladesh with a $4.5 billion support package to help it cope with soaring energy and food prices.

• Bangladesh, like other Asian economies, has been hit hard by the sharp rise in prices in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting angry street protests.
• The South Asian nation of around 170 million people approached the IMF earlier this year for support.
• An IMF delegation and Dhaka representatives "reached a staff-level agreement to support Bangladesh's economic policies" with a total of $4.5 billion under various facilities, the institution said in a statement, adding the deal was subject to IMF management approval.