DHAKA: The World Bank (WB) has promised to provide $2.7 billion loan to Bangladesh with a view to assisting various development projects in the current fiscal year.                                    

World Bank Vice-President Phillippe Le Houerou made the disclosure after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday.          

After the meeting, Phillippe Le Houerou highlighted Bangladesh`s economic potentials and expected that Bangladesh would be able to achieve over 6.5 percent economic growth in the next fiscal year.    

He added Bangladesh is just after China in export of readymade garment and it needs to draw attention to infrastructure development and strengthen regulatory framework for further development of apparel sector.     

Regarding the much-talked-about Padma Bridge, the WB VP said the government is implementing the project with its own finance.

He added: “Implementation of the project is the prime concern, not funding.”        

WB`s support for other sectors is going on, he added.

Phillippe Le Houerou said the World Bank supports Bangladesh’s plan to reach the goal of middle income’s country.

He urged the government to develop infrastructure and improve power in this regard.             

BDST: 1955 HRS, APR 01, 2014