Martin Reiser, Vice President for the South Asia Region at the World Bank, announced the bank's plans to provide $2 billion in assistance to Bangladesh in the current fiscal year.
Reiser shared the news following a meeting with Finance Adviser Saleh Uddin Ahmed at the Finance Ministry on Thursday (September 19).
"I’m happy to be back in Bangladesh. This is an important time for the country. We discussed various issues, including the banking sector. The World Bank has been a long-standing partner of Bangladesh, and we aim to continue this cooperation," Reiser said.
When asked about the specifics of the World Bank’s assistance to the interim government, Reiser explained that the final decision rests with the Board of Directors. "While I can’t make any formal promises, we are looking at providing more than $2 billion in the current fiscal year, targeting various areas."
Reiser further clarified that the assistance will cover budget support, projects in the health and energy sectors, and emergency aid. Some funds will be allocated to ongoing projects, while others will be directed toward new initiatives in Bangladesh.