United News of Bangladesh

World Bank Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt concluded his first official visit to Bangladesh on Wednesday, reaffirming WB’s commitment to help the country address its development priorities and support its people. During the visit, Zutt met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and commended the government for undertaking critical reforms needed to create the foundations for economic resilience and enhance transparency and accountability in public institutions, according to a press release.  He updated the Chief Adviser on ongoing and planned World Bank support in Bangladesh. In response to urgent needs of the country, the World Bank committed over $3 billion last fiscal year to help improve essential services, including health, water and sanitation and social protection; to increase investment in infrastructure and environmental sustainability; and to support financial and public sector reforms. Prof Yunus urges WB to view Bangladesh through lens of progress, not geography “I am delighted to return to Bangladesh, where the people, and notably the youth, are determined to have a better future,” said Zutt. “Our longstanding partnership with Bangladesh has helped lift millions of people out of poverty and we will continue to help the country build economic and climate resilience, mobilize private investment, and create opportunities for meaningful work,” he said. Committed to helping Bangladesh maintain inclusive growth path: WB VP Zutt also met the Finance Adviser, the Planning Adviser, the Bangladesh Bank Governor, the Special Envoy for International Affairs, as well as other senior government officials and representatives from the private sector, and discussed emerging challenges and opportunities for Bangladesh. The World Bank is committed to helping Bangladesh to remain on a robust and inclusive growth path, the release added.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has termed Bangladesh a friend of the UN and lauded Bangladesh’s socio-economic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said Bangladesh is a valued member of the UN and is making an important contribution to the work of the global body. The UN chief made the remarks when Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Muhammad Abdul Muhith presented his credentials to the UN chief in the UN headquarters on Tuesday. Read: Khalid Mahmud welcomes US support for inland waterways management Prior to this on Thursday, 28th of July he joined the Mission. Abdul Muhith is the 16th Permanent Representative (PR) of Bangladesh to the UN since 1974 when Bangladesh became the member of the apex body under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ambassador Muhith was Bangladesh Ambassador to Austria prior to this appointment.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday said Bangladesh has undergone an “impressive development and is today a vibrant democracy” with high economic growth rates. “At the same time, Bangladesh has succeeded in clearly reducing poverty in the country using innovative development policy strategies,” he said in a message sent to President Abdul Hamid. Also read: French senator lauds Bangladesh’s progress; recalls Bangabandhu Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen read out the message at a programme held at the National Parade Ground on Tuesday, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence. The German President said the world very much values Bangladesh’s peaceful foreign policy and its generous humanitarian engagement, particularly when it comes to taking in hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled their homes. Also read: India praises Hasina's statesmanship, Bangladesh’s "miraculous” progress “The global challenges of our time, particularly the current pandemic situation and climate change, can only be tackled if we work together. Our many years of friendly relations provide a very firm basis for such cooperation,” the message reads. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s Independence, he conveyed to his Bangladesh counterpart and the people of Bangladesh his sincere congratulations. “I wish you strength and every success for the tasks that lie ahead.” Also read: Bangladesh’s importance in S Asia growing: US

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said Bangladesh wants to work with the United States on “security issue of the Indo-Pacific” but purchasing expensive defence equipment is not its priority.