$74m WB fund for tech services, cleaner Dhaka

Bangladesh today inked two financing agreements of $74 million with the World Bank to improve e-government services and improve Dhaka’s air quality.

The global lender will be providing $39 million to scale up e-government infrastructure and services, a press release of the World Bank released today said.

This will allow the public sector to benefit from higher efficiency, reduce risks in the use of IT and promote the e-Governance efforts in the years ahead, it read.

“These two financings will help Bangladesh improve lives and living standards of its population,” said Rajashree Paralkar, Acting World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh.

The financing to Clean Air and Sustainable Project will help address Dhaka’s environmental, transport and traffic challenges, and help improve the city’s air quality, Paralkar said.

These financings will contribute to government’s vision of a ‘Digital Bangladesh’, said Mahmuda Begum, Additional Secretary, economic relations division of Bangladesh government.

The credits from the World Bank’s International Development Association, its grant to low-interest loan arm, have a 38-year term, including a six-year grace period, and a service charge of 0.75 percent.

Source: thedailystar