The World Bank on Thursday said that it could lend around $2.3 billion to Bangladesh to help the country to carry out critical reforms for improving governance, transparency and accountability.

The lending programme will also help the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus to enhance economic resilience, recover from the recent flood and undertake public and financial sector reforms for better service delivery.

Besides, building a clean energy sector, and improve air quality and health outcomes will get priority under the lending programme in the  current financial year ending in June 2025, said a WB press release on the day.

The WB issued the press release after its vice president for South Asia, Martin Raiser, concluded his visit of Bangladesh on the day.

Raiser met the chief adviser of the Interim Government and discussed the bank’s lending programme.

He also met with finance adviser, energy adviser and the Bangladesh Bank governor and discussed reforms aimed at helping Bangladesh build economic resilience and safeguard financial sector stability.

Finance adviser Salehddin told reporters that they discussed budget support, heath sector, uninterrupted imports of energy and fertiliser and food sufficiency.

Discussions were also held on post flood recovery and the Rohingya crisis, he added.

The finance adviser said that the WB was convinced about the reform programme taken by the interim government after the Awami League regime was ousted in a mass uprising in the past month.

Raiser highlighted the substantial resources available to Bangladesh from the existing portfolio of WB financed projects, which could be repurposed as needed to provide additional funding for the government’s most urgent priorities to set the country on a new sustainable growth path.

‘Bangladesh has the opportunity to implement critical reforms that were unaddressed for a longtime.’ said Raiser.

‘Through existing and new investments, we are focusing on improving economic governance and creating more and better jobs for two million Bangladeshi youths entering the job market every year,’ he added.

Raiser expressed his condolences for the tragic loss of lives in July and August.

The WB is in discussions with the health ministry to provide urgent support for the treatment of the critically injured students and affected individuals.

Further, the World Bank will support rehabilitation and livelihood restoration for the people affected in the recent flood in eastern districts.

He also conveyed appreciation for Bangladesh’s generous decision to continue providing shelter to about a million displaced Rohingya people fleeing violence in Myanmar.

The WB has recently approved $700 million programme for the displaced Rohingyas and the host communities. News Link: WB to lend $2.3 billion in FY25