ADB TO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT TO REALIZE ITS VISION FOR DEVELOPMENT
February 18th, 2010 | 
Author: 
DHAKA, 18 FEBRUARY 2010: ADB will extend strong support and cooperation to help Bangladesh sustain progress on poverty reduction and the MDGs and enhance growth to become a middle income country by 2021 as pledged by the Government.
“To help achieve the goals, ADB will provide around $1.2 billion in assistance to Bangladesh per annum over the next three years,” said Mr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Director General (DG) of ADB’s South Asia Department, who completed today a 5-day visit to Dhaka to participate in the Bangladesh Development Forum during 15-16 February and hold discussions with senior government officials and development partners.
The DG, who met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior ministers and officials, indicated that ADB would continue to support the Government’s priorities, including construction of the Padma Bridge, increasing power generation, improving transport connectivity, promoting regional cooperation and adapting to climate change. ADB will also continue providing support for education, health, agriculture, water resources, and urban sectors.
The DG also noted the significant improvement in ADB’s operational performance in Bangladesh in recent years, and stressed on the need for further acceleration of project implementation for overall improvement of the Government’s annual development program.
ADB provided around $600 million in assistance to Bangladesh per annum during 2006-2008, and is currently supporting a wide range of development programs with 59 projects of the Government worth around $4.5 billion as of end January 2010.
Gobinda Bar
Head, External Relations
Asian Development Bank
Bangladesh Resident Mission
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