WB pledges to provide with whatever fund Bangladesh needs: Finance minister

The World Bank (WB) has pledged to invest in potential sectors of Bangladesh, regardless of whatever amount of money they require.

The global lending organisation has also expressed keen interest in working with Bangladesh to ensure road safety.

Mercy Miyang Tembon, the WB’s country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, made this commitment to Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal during a courtesy call on the latter at his ministry on Thursday.

He also suggested the government to improve the waterways as transporting goods through this means is easy and cost-effective.

“Bangladesh made development beyond imagination. I have found a new Bangladesh compared to what I saw during my first visit here in 2007. Bangladesh has made a lot of improvement in economic sectors, including infrastructure development,” Mercy said.

WB regional vice-president and UN spokesperson for road safety Hartwig Schafer said the United Nations lays special emphasis on road safety across the world.

He is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on August 23-24 for this purpose.

The WB wants to see Bangladesh as a role model in road safety. It will provide Bangladesh with assistance in river, water and blue economy.

“I have come to brand Bangladesh to the world,” Hartwig said.

“It is possible to utilise 88 percent of the blue economy. In the coming annual meeting of the WB, I will present the story of Bangladesh to the world. Besides, I will try my best so that Bangladesh gets IDA fund,” he added.

After the meeting, Finance Minister Mustafa Kamal told the journalists that the WB is one of the trusted associates in the development of Bangladesh. 

“We will complete all the ongoing projects financed by the WB in time,” said the minister.

He also said that the government will consult the WB to utilise all the potential sectors.