Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank assures fiscal support to Bangladesh before other countries

Bangladesh will be the first country to receive support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the bank’s president Jin Liqun has said.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 Nov 2015, 05:14 PM
Updated : 14 Nov 2015, 06:03 PM

Recalling Bangladesh’s significant contribution to the bank’s establishment, he said AIIB’s fiscal focus would be on developing the country’s power, transport and infrastructure sectors.
 
Liqun made the promise while calling on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban in Dhaka on Saturday, said her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim.
 
The prime minister said the setting up of AIIB has created new opportunities for the countries of this region; they would now make major economic progress if they worked together.
 
During the meeting, Hasina told Liqun that her government plans to bring Bangladesh under the railway network.
 
She also talked of improving and expanding the railway network, along with the roads and waterways, Karim told reporters.
 
Highlighting Bangladesh's socioeconomic progress, Hasina said the people’s demands have now changed. "Earlier they wanted food, but now they ask for electricity.”
 
Karim said the premier also spoke of the four-nation BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) cooperation and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, saying that these initiatives would create more opportunities.