World Bank (WB) has arranged a two-day workshop, which will begin today in Habigonj, to fix a six-year credit assistance strategy for Bangladesh.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, State Minister for Finance and Planning Abdul Mannan, Comptroller Auditor General and 50 other high officials from various related ministries will attend the workshop titled “Public Financial Management Reform Strategy 2016-2021.”
According to finance division officials: “World Bank will place a proposal as to what kind of financial help will be given to Bangladesh under new project assistance.”
The global lender will also want to know amount of funds required for the development projects and the types of expenditure by the government, they added.
Sources said: “World Bank might put emphasis on ensuring transparency and accountability in fund using in the development projects during the workshop and it also might urge the government to come out from its weak institutional capacity in implementing the foreign-funded projects.”
After the cancellation of Padma Bridge funding by World Bank, the relationship between Awami League-led government and the bank was worsened.
However, as the relationship has been improved, the global lender has now come up with renewed interest for funding the development projects.
An official of planning division said: “We will discuss about the financing matter for the implementation of the government’s seventh five-year plan. Revenue earnings will also be another issue to be discussed at the workshop.”