World Bank (WB) Group President Ajay Banga today said the
global lender would provide US$ 3.5 billion to support reform initiatives of
Bangladesh’s interim government.
The
WB president announced the assistance at a meeting with Bangladesh Chief
Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters here on Wednesday (local time).
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 WB to be creative about its lending programme.
"It
is a big opportunity to rebuild the country," he said.
The
WB 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.