Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operative (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam has claimed that Bangladesh is well-positioned in comparison to other Asian nations with regards to its foreign debt.  

He came up with the assertion while briefing journalists after a meeting with a World Bank delegation led by its country director Mercy Tembon at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday.  

“Our foreign loans are less than other Asian counties. We never failed to pay the loans. That is why the World Bank wants to give us more loans. But, we will take loans considering all economic aspects of the country,” Tajul said. 

READ: Parking on roads should be penalised: LGRD minister

The government of Sheikh Hasina is receiving foreign loans after proper scrutiny, he said.   

Tajul also said, “World Bank basically is a finance organisation. It has been mentioned that Bangladesh is not a bottomless basket anymore. Bangladesh is moving forward as an emerging economy. The current economic condition of Bangladesh is far better than the past.” 

Mentioning that development works of various projects financed by the World Bank worth $2.87 billion are going on in full swing in the country, the LGRD minister said the Washington-based lender has expressed its keen interest to invest about $100 billion in various sectors in Bangladesh.  

About the much-hyped Padma Bridge, he said, the World Bank acknowledged that Bangladesh has shown its capacity to the whole world by constructing Padma Bridge.

LGRD secretary Mezbah Uddin Choudhury along with the other high officials of the ministry was present.