The World Bank has made commitments of funds of around $2.7 billion, a record amount in a fiscal year, to Bangladesh for its success in reducing poverty and improvements in education and health sectors.  
The previous highest commitment was $2.1 billion, made for fiscal year 2010-2011, but the $1.2 billion WB fund for Padma bridge was later cancelled over graft allegations.  
“I am proud to say for the first time in 20 years we have been able to commit all of IDA [International Development Assistance] allocations this fiscal year,” WB Vice-president Philippe Le Houérou told reporters yesterday after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith.
Le Houérou came to Bangladesh on March 28 for the first time on a week-long visit after he was appointed vice-president of the WB South Asia Region in July last year.
Referring to the country's tremendous success in poverty reduction, he said the WB wanted to continue its support in some sectors such as education, health, social empowerment, social protection and agriculture.
“We also want to focus on the poorest in society and rural electrification,” he said, citing programmes designed to empower the poor, especially women.
Bangladesh has severe shortcomings in infrastructure, Le Houérou said, adding the global lender was working on where to focus and invest.

He said he appreciated the government's target to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021, but to reach the goal it would have to raise the GDP growth
Six percent GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth on average is good, but increasing it further by another two percentage points or more will be difficult, the WB official said, adding he was expecting GDP 6 to 6.5 in the next fiscal.
Replying to queries over the financing of Padma bridge, he said it was an important project for the government that was now moving forward with its own financing plans.
The finance minister told reporters that tension between the government and the WB eased after the government had decided to build the bridge with its own fund. The WB has provided other sectors with the $1.2 billion fund committed for the Padma bridge, Muhith said.
He also said the government had sought budget support from the WB for the next fiscal.
The WB vice- president told him that the WB would move in this regard. However, to receive budget support, the government will have to take up various reform programmes in banking sector and food security, the WB official said.