A World Bank-backed project will support institutional reforms across 5 key government agencies in Bangladesh through digital transformation, with the aim of improving governance, public financial management and service delivery.
The Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA) project will provide institutional and technological support to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), National Board of Revenue (NBR), Planning Division, Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG).
The initiative is expected to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, evidence-based policymaking and public financial management while expanding digital government services.
At the BBS, the project will establish an integrated national data ecosystem to improve the production, management and use of official statistics for policymaking.
The NBR will modernize tax administration through automation, e-invoicing and integrated digital platforms aimed at improving tax compliance and increasing domestic revenue collection.
The Planning Division will receive advanced digital tools, including artificial intelligence-enabled analytics and real-time monitoring systems, to strengthen public investment management and project oversight.
The BPPA will upgrade the country's electronic government procurement platform with enhanced digital features to improve efficiency, transparency and value for money in public procurement.
The project will also digitize audit processes at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG). According to the World Bank, the reforms are expected to reduce audit reporting time from 72 months to 9 months.
The World Bank said stronger public institutions are essential for sustaining Bangladesh's economic growth, improving service delivery and supporting long-term development objectives.
State Minister for Finance and Planning Zonayed Saki said: "By modernizing systems and enhancing transparency in procurement, data quality, domestic resource mobilization, public financial management and project implementation, the project is expected to build a stronger foundation for effective service delivery."
He added: "The initiative will also strengthen accountability and increase public confidence in government institutions."
Jean Pesme, the World Bank's Divisional Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said: "Bangladesh's next stage of economic growth will rely on strong, transparent and accountable institutions."
He added: "The SITA project will help modernize core government systems while strengthening data quality, so decisions are better informed, results are tracked more effectively and accountability is reinforced."
According to the World Bank, the SITA project was approved on June 12, 2025, to support Bangladesh's efforts to strengthen public institutions through digital governance and institutional reforms.