World Bank approves $500m budget support for Bangladesh

The World Bank approved $500 million in financing yesterday (20 June) to help improve trust in Bangladesh's public institutions through increased accountability and transparency, and enhance corporate governance and stability in the financial sector. 

The "Strengthening Governance and Institutional Resilience Development Policy Credit" supports public and financial sector reforms, which are key for sustained economic growth, reads a World Bank press release. 

The reforms will also lay the foundations for improved services for vulnerable households, it adds. 

"Improvements in how public finances are managed are important for Bangladesh's economy to grow sustainably. The government is taking ambitious steps to make its institutions more open and answerable, so they can serve the people better," said World Bank Interim Country Director for Bangladesh Gayle Martin. 

"This financing will support the government's efforts to strengthen its policies and regulatory framework to build a stronger, more inclusive economy that benefits everyone. Through another project that was approved last week, we are supporting the government to implement these reforms."

In the release, the World Bank said Bangladesh currently has one of the lowest revenue-to-GDP ratios among middle-income countries, significantly limiting the government's ability to deliver quality services to its people. This program supports reforms aimed at improving domestic revenue mobilization. The reforms would make tax administration and policy-making more transparent and efficient, aligning with international best practices. 

"Further, it will support reforms to move to a more strategic, systematic, and transparent approach to managing tax exemptions that will require Parliamentary approval for all exemptions, which would be a significant step away from current ad hoc practices," read the release. 

It said the financing will also strengthen corporate governance and risk management frameworks by aligning financial reporting with international standards and increasing transparency. It will help improve financial sector stability by providing the Bangladesh Bank with a complete range of resolution powers to address vulnerabilities in the banking sector. 

World Bank, in its release, observed that a third strand of reforms will improve transparency, accountability and efficiency across the public sector. By 2027, all government project appraisal documents will be required to be made public. 

"Public procurement system will be required to use electronic government procurement (e-GP), disclose of beneficiary ownership, and remove price caps to foster competition and reduce corruption risks. To improve financial accountability and transparency in the public sector, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General's auditing capacity will be strengthened," read the release. 

It observed that the independence of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics will improve data transparency, leading to better service delivery for citizens. Finally, cash transfer programs for the poor and vulnerable will be made more effective with the operationalization of a dynamic social registry.

"This Financing is closely aligned with the citizen's desire for transparency and accountability and will support Bangladesh's ambitious reform agenda for improving domestic revenue mobilization, financial sector stability and governance, and public sector performance," said Dhruv Sharma, World Bank senior economist and task team leader for the project. 

"Improving data systems and moving towards improved selection of beneficiaries will ensure that government resources effectively reach poor and vulnerable households, especially during economic shocks and natural disasters. 

With this financing, the World Bank's total new commitments to Bangladesh in FY25 stood at $3.07 billion. The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh and has committed over $46 billion in grants, interest-free, and concessional credits to the country since its independence, said the release.