Dhaka: World Bank Vice President Martin Raiser today reiterated the global lender’s pledge to support the reform agendas of Bangladesh’s Interim Government. Raiser made this commitment during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussions focused on the World Bank’s financing of Bangladesh’s major reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, governance, and digitalisation, particularly in tax administration. Raiser emphasized the importance of these reforms for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and inclusive growth, stating that they are crucial for building confidence in the country’s institutions.
Raiser highlighted the need for separating tax administration from tax policy to improve transparency in the revenue system. He stressed that parliament should have exclusive authority to decide on tax exemptions. The World Bank Vice President also underscored the significance of improving public procurement and ensuring the independence of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to enhance data quality for effective policymaking.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus discussed his creation of a consensus commission to facilitate dialogue with political parties regarding the reforms proposed by six major commissions. He noted that once consensus is reached, a July Charter will be signed and implemented by the Interim Government and future political administrations.
The meeting also covered the need for a strong digitalisation agenda, including the National Identification (NID) initiative. Raiser suggested that the World Bank could assist Dhaka in connecting with countries that have advanced digital identification infrastructures, further supporting Bangladesh’s reform efforts.