Out of all the development partners, the World Bank provided the highest amount of foreign aid to Bangladesh in the last fiscal year, despite a row with the government over the much-hyped Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project.
The disbursements of their financing for Annual Development Program (ADP) of Bangladesh increased in 2012-13, said an official at the World Bank resident mission. He said the disbursements for the World Bank-funded projects are on track, reports UNB.
At the end of FY13, the bank's portfolio in Bangladesh stands at US$4.8bn in 29 projects (IDA ones only).
The official said the disbursements to Bangladesh reached $764.5m in FY13 (from IDA, TFs, PPFs, and closed projects) in their grace periods compared to $600m disbursed in FY12.
The World Bank had committed $1.6bn concessionary lending in FY13 for Bangladesh.
The official said the World Bank in recent years has focused more on achieving development results in its supported projects and operations.
An official at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) said with the World Bank funding, positive outcomes are seen in many areas such as increasing school enrolment, improving health status, expanding renewable energy, and providing infrastructure like rural roads and water supply.
Since independence, the World Bank has provided more than $15bn support to Bangladesh and helped the country to significantly reduce poverty and boost human development.
According to the ERD, foreign aid flow to Bangladesh in the last fiscal year was around $3bn lower than its commitments,but aid disbursement was higher totalling $ 2,786.13 million in the last fiscal compared to $2bn fetched in fiscal year 2011-12.
The commitment for the FY13 was much higher as it was close to $6bn compared to $4.7bnbn during the same period of previous year (FY12), said an official at the Economic Relations Division (ERD).
During the FY13, Bangladesh made a repayment of $1.1bn, including $0.92bn in principal amount while the rest of $ 202m as interests.
During the previous fiscal year (2011-12), Bangladesh made a repayment of $ 966m including $759m as principal amount.
Of the disbursed amount of $2.8bn for the FY13, the ERD official said Bangladesh received $2bn in loans while it received $652m as grants.
Apart from the World Bank financing in the last fiscal year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided $670.4m, followed by JICA $ 630.4m, UN system $203.9m, IDB $10.2m, EU $68m.
Besides the World Bank, other development partners include Asian Development Bank, Australia, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Germany, the Islamic Development Bank, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States.
