The World Bank has assured Bangladesh of quick release of fund committed by the organisation for construction of the much-desired Padma Bridge.
The assurance came following request of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as WB President Robert B Zoellick paid a courtesy call on her at her guest house in the morning on the sidelines of the International Summit on “Preservation of Tigers” that began on Saturday.
They discussed various issues including the bank’s support for socio-economic and infrastructural development of Bangladesh, said prime minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad after the meeting.
Laying emphasis on starting necessary works towards construction of Padma Bridge soon, Hasina said it would be delayed if the fund committed by the Bank was not released immediately.
The prime minister listed various programmes undertaken by her government to face climate change challenges as well as ensuring food security for the people and sought the WB support to implement those for overall development of Bangladesh.
She said her government had announced a 134-point programme to face climate change challenges and put special importance on agriculture for achieving food security in the country.
Hasina said her government is also working jointly with other member countries of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) for socio-economic development of the South Asian nations.
The WB president appreciated Hasina for her prudent leadership in different international forums to face climate change challenges and ensure food security for her country.
“Your concept of building a digital Bangladesh is also praiseworthy, it would help build a digital nation in future,” Zeollick told Hasina in the meeting.
The WB chief also assured that it would extend all-out support for implementing the government’s programmes in facing climate change challenges including capital dredging and disaster management.
He expressed the hope that Bangladesh would go forward in terms of socio-economic development under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, State Minister for Forest and Environment Hasan Mahmud, Principal Secretary MA Karim and Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia SM Saiful Hoque, among others, were present on the occasion.
thedailystar
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