UK doubles its aid to Bangladesh

The UK government has announced that it would double its aid to Bangladesh over the next four years, following a major review of Britain's global aid programmes, reports UNB. The plans to redraw the aid map will concentrate efforts on countries where the UK aid will achieve the best results in combating poverty and building a safer world. A target has been set to provide 50 million people globally with the means to work their way out of poverty over the next four years, a release of the British HC in Dhaka said on Wednesday. In Bangladesh, the UK's development programme will focus on creating jobs and incomes, increasing skills, and making Bangladesh a more attractive place to do business and helping the very poor pull themselves out of poverty by increasing their earning potential. The UK programmes will also focus on strengthening the capability of the government in public financial management and to provide better basic social services such as education, health and clean water, helping girls and boys to complete primary school and improving family planning and reducing maternal deaths. The UK will also support Bangladesh in facing the major challenges of climate change and natural disasters; the economic and social status of women; and malnutrition. Andrew Mitchell, the UK's International Development Secretary, has made it clear that some increased help is linked to key in-country reforms. He said Britain will in future have bilateral aid programmes in a maximum of twenty-seven countries, including Bangladesh, which between them amount for 75 per cent of global deaths during pregnancy and childbirth and nearly three 75 per cent of deaths from malaria worldwide.