Bangladesh to sign new country partnership framework with WB: Finance Minister

Bangladesh is set to sign a new country partnership framework agreement with the World Bank (WB), with a government delegation scheduled to hold talks with the global lender within the next two to three weeks to finalise the terms.

"Although there are no major disagreements over the fundamental policy issues, the two sides will determine the final details through discussions under a joint action plan," Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Friday.

Khosru made the remarks while briefing journalists on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group in Bangkok.

Earlier in the day, the finance minister held meetings with representatives of Bank of America, Google, the IMF, Standard Chartered Bank and Moody's at the Sirikit International Convention Centre.

The discussions covered Bangladesh's overall economic situation, debt-related issues, financial sector reforms and other matters.

Referring to the meetings, the minister said the current year was particularly important for Bangladesh, and international organisations had also recognised the significance of this period.

Considering the country's circumstances, the World Bank, the IMF and other international development partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), were working closely with Bangladesh to support its economic development and help it address global challenges, he said.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to implementing its election manifesto and programmes, the finance minister said the government waspreparing a specific development framework for the next five years.

Asked about the remarks made by the World Bank president and the IMF managing director at a plenary session earlier in the morning, Khosru said mutual cooperation and partnership remained the greatest strengths of low-income countries amid the current global crisis.

He expressed hope that the heads of the two institutions would continue to extend sincere support and promote joint efforts with Bangladesh to meet public expectations and ensure the country's sustainable development.