World Bank (WB) has been considering financing the Shitalakkha Bridge in Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) area, said Johannes Zutt WB country director for Bangladesh and Nepal.
WB would assist different development projects of 26 municipalities and city corporations, he added.
Zutt said: “Transparency and accountability is important for the development of Bangladesh. The money of WB has to be used for the development of infrastructures and cities. In this regard, WB will withdraw the fund if the authorities concerned notice misuse of money and lack of accountability.”
He said this at a discussion programme held at the seminar room of NCC with the counsellors and city corporation officials yesterday morning.
After visiting different development projects in the NCC, Zutt said: “I am fully satisfied. Accountability and transparency can lead any country towards development. The way that the NCC has taken up the development initiatives for a period of 5 to 20 years and this is not easily seen in many countries of the world.”
The country director came to the NCC at around 10am. Later, he visited some of the ongoing development projects.
In the mean time mayor of NCC Selina Hayat Ivy requested WB representative to arrange fund for building a bridge over Shitalakkha and establishing a park for the children for recreation and amusement of the city dwellers.
NCC Panel Mayor Haji Obaidullah, counsellor Asit Boron Biswas were also present on the occasion among others. Zutt said: “Municipalities and city corporations should adopt development plans for as long as 20 years. Otherwise, it is not possible to build a planned and developed city.”