Chief Adviser Prof Dr Mohammad Yunus hands over an art book 'Art of Triumph' to World Bank President Ajay Banga at the UN Headquarters on Thursday. The book portrays the graffiti drawn by Bangladeshi students after the July-August revolution. — PID Another dollop of US$3.5 billion will come from the World Bank to provide fund support to Bangladesh interim government's comprehensive reform initiatives.
President of the World Bank Ajay Banga announced the support during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, a spokesperson for the CA said on Thursday.
Banga, a long-time friend of Professor Yunus, said at least two billion dollars would be fresh lending and another 1.5 billion would be repurposed from the existing programmes.
He said the World Bank would support reforms in digitisation, liquidity, energy and power, and transport.
During the meeting, Professor Yunus sought the World Bank support for the wide-ranging reforms the Interim Government has undertaken, following the August-5th changeover.
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 also present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has received assurances of fund support from development financiers, including the IMF.
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