WB will give budgetary support to BD: Muhith

The World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings 2014 has begun in Washington DC to lessen income disparity by raising global employment. After more than a decade the World Bank (WB) has agreed to give budget support to Bangladesh, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said. He told bdnews24.com that apart from other development help, the multi-lateral lending agency will give US $500 million as budget support in the next FY 2015-16. Bangladesh had last received budget support from the WB in 2003. The WB-IMF Annual Meeting started on Friday Washington DC local time or Saturday, Bangladesh time. The inaugural session was addressed by WB Chairman Patrick Pruaitch, its President Jim Yong Kim, and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde. In the 3-day conference, attended by finance ministers, central bank chiefs and top officials of 188 countries, the WB and the IMF will finalise their plans for the next one year. Muhith is leading the Bangladesh delegation, according to bdnews24.com.