Rohingya influx: TIB calls out World Bank for offering loan instead of grant

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over the loan proposal given by the World Bank (WB) to Bangladesh in order to meet the challenges of ongoing Rohingya crisis, claiming it should instead be offering grants. The independent and non-profit organisation revealed the observations in a press briefing on Thursday, urging the Bangladesh government to continue its diplomatic efforts to channel interest-free financial aid from the global donor instead of receiving loans under its Global Concessional Financing Facility. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said: “From the different stories published in mass media, we have come to know that the World Bank is attempting to provide loans to Bangladesh government for meeting various demands of the Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.” “This is unethical, unacceptable and alarming,” he said. The TIB director termed this proposal as nothing but an attempt to expand its usury in the name of assistance during a humanitarian crisis. Dr Iftekharuzzaman also said: “The Myanmar government along with its military forces committed the heinous massacre in a planned way for ethnic cleansing which forced around 1,000,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.” “The burden of such an unprecedented crisis doesn’t lie on Bangladesh alone; rather it primarily lies on Myanmar and the international community.” He also condemned several global powers for providing direct and indirect support which spurred the Myanmar military to execute such a brutal crime. “Bangladesh has no reason to bear this burden alone; nor does it have the capacity,” the TIB executive director further said. He also urged the World Bank to use its position, being one of the largest donors of Myanmar, to push Myanmar to bring back its nationals. Earlier on October 12, the World Bank said it was ready to provide financial assistance to the Bangladesh government in a bid to meet the demands of Rohingya refugees following a bilateral meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith. After the meeting, the finance minister told the journalist that only half of the assistance may possibly be received as grants.