The World Bank (WB) has shown keen interest in working for better road safety in the country in a first gesture of openness and goodwill in the relationship, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday.
The relationship with the Washington-based lending institution had taken a hit following the graft allegations involving the Padma Bridge project.
The global lender wants to start a new chapter in the relationship with Dhaka, the minister told reporters after a meeting with a seven-member delegation of the WB and the United Nations at the secretariat in the city.
Visiting World Bank Vice President for South Asia Region Hartwig Schafer and UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt were among the delegation members.
The joint mission of the WB and the UN expressed the hope that they would be able to bring visible changes to the road safety situation in the country within three years, said the minister.
The delegation also placed some proposals such as raising awareness and ensuring traffic law enforcement to improve road safety, he added.
"They have come with an open mind and an investment plan to improve relationship which has deteriorated since the withdrawal of the funding from the Padma Bridge project," said Mr Quader.
He also said the WB assured them that such incident would not be repeated in the future.
The WB has also assured the minister that it would finance the 160-km Jhineda-Bhomra road upgrade project.
smunima@yahoo.com