WB not worried if fighting corruption slows them down: Goldstein

Country director of World Bank (WB) Ellen Goldstein Sunday said they are not worried if fighting corruption slows them down, though implementation of development projects might get delayed, reports UNB. "World Bank needs to investigate all credible allegations of corruptions," she said at the opening session of a review meeting at the NEC Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka Sunday. Goldstein said: "If fighting corruption slows us down, we will go slow, but I'm not worried about slowing down in order to take the time to what we are doing transparently to help reduce poverty." She said that her job is to protect the reputation of the World Bank. "There would be no compromise while ensuring good governance." Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman presided over the opening session, where the World Bank country director made an overview of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) 2011-14. Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan spoke on the CAS implementation and early progress. Goldstein said they seek to promote sustainable and accelerated growth in Bangladesh. "We really want to build accountability at the centre and local level." She said that out of the 28 World Bank-financed projects, four are problem projects, which needed action. Citing the fact that disbursement and implementation are lagging behind, Dr Rahman said these need to be improved along with the commitment. "Unless the implementation improves, we would pile up a huge pipeline and the benefit will not go to the people," he said. Asked whether there is any mistrust between the government and the development partners, the PM's adviser said he does not think there is any. Echoing the PM's Adviser, the WB country director said, "We might have difference of opinion, but underneath that there has to be a level of trust."