World Bank to enter into a partnership agreement with Bangladesh: Finance Minister

Bangla Press Desk: Bangladesh is set to enter into a new partnership framework agreement with the World Bank. A government delegation will meet with the World Bank within the next two to three weeks to finalize the terms of the agreement. While there are no issues regarding the core policy principles, the specific modalities will be determined through discussions and formalized via a joint action plan.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury shared these details with journalists in Bangkok on Friday afternoon, on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group.
Earlier in the day, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the Finance Minister held meetings with representatives from Bank of America, Google, the IMF, Standard Chartered Bank, and Moody’s. These discussions covered various topics, including Bangladesh’s overall situation, debt-related matters, and reforms within the financial sector.
Regarding these meetings, the Finance Minister noted that the current year is highly significant for Bangladesh—a fact recognized by international organizations. In light of this, various international development partners—including the World Bank, the IMF, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)—are working closely with the country to support its economic development and help it navigate global crises.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to implementing the election manifesto and programs presented to the public, the Finance Minister stated that a comprehensive development framework agreement is being drafted for the next five years.
When asked about the plenary session addressed by the President of the World Bank and the Managing Director (MD) of the IMF, the Finance Minister remarked that, in the context of the current global crisis, mutual cooperation and partnership serve as the greatest strength for low-income nations. The heads of both institutions expressed optimism that, in order to meet the public's expectations and ensure the country's sustainable development, all development partners will continue to provide sincere support and engage in collaborative efforts.
BP/TD