2024-09-20 10:08:26
Martin Riser, vice president of the multilateral lender World Bank, said the World Bank is ready to be part of the interim government’s key economic reforms.
On Thursday (September 19) in Tejgaon office, the chief advisor of the interim government. He said this during his meeting with Muhammad Yunus.
Trust us, World Bank Vice President Riser said in response to the Chief Adviser’s call for massive support in the interim government’s initiative to overcome the economic crisis, eliminate corruption and take fundamental reform steps in areas such as the judiciary. We are ready to assist.
He said the World Bank was “enthusiastic” about the reform agenda of the interim government.
The visiting World Bank Vice President said that the World Bank is ready to support reform initiatives in banking, taxes, duties, VAT, digitization, anti-corruption measures.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus welcomed the World Bank’s assistance, saying the interim government has received a massive mandate from the people to get rid of corruption and start a new journey.
Dr. Yunus said, this is the season of reforms. We want to start now. A student-led mass uprising in July-August set the stage for major reforms in the existing system.
He said, we don’t want to go back. This movement completely rejected the past. Now it’s a clean slate.
Professor Yunus outlined the reform initiatives his government has taken so far, saying that among the measures in the economic sector, corruption, labor reform and youth development are given top priority.
He said the government would implement the ILO Convention on Labor Reforms, which would increase the confidence of foreign investors in Bangladesh and help local manufacturers to gain a foothold in the international arena.
The chief adviser also said, “We want to get the job done.” Bangladesh should also play a role in other sectors apart from the global sector.
Praising the move to attract foreign direct investment, Riser said annual FDI in Bangladesh is about half a percent of the country’s GDP and is the lowest in the region.
He said the World Bank has approved $700 million for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis and the host community in Cox’s Bazar.
The Chief Adviser said, “He is interested in getting help for the millions of young people growing up in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. We need to focus on this issue.”
Lutfe Siddiqui, Special Envoy of Chief Adviser, Lamia Morshed, Senior Secretary and Head of SDG Affairs, Abdoulaye Sek, World Bank Country Director, Shahriar Quader Siddiqui, Secretary of Economic Relations Department were also present at this time.