UNFPA to give $70m to BD till 2016

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will provide US$70 million grants to Bangladesh till 2016 for facilitating development of the country's education and health sectors.

UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Argentina Matavel Piccin told this to press after a meeting with Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal at his Planning Commission office in the city Tuesday.

Ms Piccin said they will provide $6.60 million for the Generation Breakthrough Project in Bangladesh, under which some 350 school children across the country will get education related with health, reproductive health and sex.

AHM Mustafa Kamal said the government is happy with UNFPA's support, which is facilitating development of the country's education and health sectors.

He said since Bangladesh is now a "dividend population" country, UNFPA is eager to help develop its young population with quality education and sound health.

Besides the UNFPA representative, the Netherlands Embassy's first secretary Ella de Voogd also met the planning minister at his office.