World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said the global lender would provide $3.5 billion to support reform initiatives of Bangladesh’s interim government. The WB president announced the assistance at a meeting with the Bangladesh government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters in NY on Wednesday (Sep 25), local media reported.
Banga, a long-time friend of Prof Yunus, said at least US$ two billion would be provided as fresh lending while another US$ 1.5 billion would be repurposed from the existing programmes. He said the WB would support reforms in digitisation, liquidity, energy, power and transport sectors in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Prof Yunus sought the World Bank’s support for the wide-range reforms the Interim government had taken. He asked the World Bank to be creative about its lending programme. "It is a big opportunity to rebuild the country," he said.
The World Bank president discussed the energy sector cooperation in South Asia and how hydro energy produced in Nepal and Bhutan could be shared by neighbours such as India and Bangladesh.
Energy and Power Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan was present at the meeting.
