Staff Correspondent
Country Director of the World Bank in Bangladesh and Bhutan Abdoulaye Seck renewed the World Bank
Group's commitments toBangladesh saying they are ready to work with the interim government led
byNobel laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus as the chief adviser.
"We renewed our World Bank Group's commitments and we stand ready to work with the interim
government to continue the long standing strong partnership between the World Bank and Bangladesh
with a commitments of over $42 billon since 1972," he said after meeting the Adviser to the interim
government on the Ministries of Finance and Planning Dr Salehuddin Ahmed at the latter's ERD office.
Seck said they renewed their commitments to the people of Bangladesh to make sure carrying out
reforms which are critical for the country, the financial sector, important trade reforms, business climate
and so to the agenda of private-sector led jobs creations for young people, the agenda of inclusion,
agenda of resilience to climate risks.
Asked whether there is any concern over the repayment capacity of Bangladesh's foreign loans, Seck
said it has never been a concern for Bangladesh over the last 50 years since Bangladesh has been a
reliable partner. "It has never been a concern for Bangladesh as I've worked in various capacities in
different countries. So, I think this country will be proud of it,"
Replying to another question on the struggling financial sector, the World Bank Country Director said
that since it has been a critical agenda, the World Bank Group has been supporting in many of the
agenda which were critical like the policy-based lending and the Bank Company Act. "But, still there are
a number of issues like how to reduce the NPLs and we're very much encouraged on how we can work
together,"
