ADB is ready to provide additional funds to Bangladesh: Nakao

Asian Development Bank or ADB President Takehiko Nakao has told Bangladesh they stand ready to provide additional funds for development projects.

His assurance came in response to Finance Minister AMA Muhith’s call for funds for 10 ‘mega projects’ currently under way.

The visiting ADB chief held a meeting with Muhith at Dhaka’s Sonargaon hotel on Tuesday night.   

After the meeting, Nakao told bdnews24.com: “Additional financing for Bangladesh will not be a problem. We are waiting for good projects.”

He said they were ready to finance good projects from their $40 billion Asian Development Fund or ADF.

Nakao was happy with the progress in the ADB-funded projects in Bangladesh.

He said he heard an ‘interesting’ thing from a girl when he asked her what she wished to be during a visit to a school near Dhaka on Tuesday morning.

“She said she wants to be a NASA engineer. It’s amazing!” Nakao said.

Muhith said he called for the ADB’s help to build a second bridge on the Padma river or fund any of the 10 ‘mega projects’. “I’ve received a positive reply,” he added.

Nakao passed a hectic day on Tuesday after arriving in Dhaka on Monday night.

He visited the ICT laboratory at Komolpur Hazi Zahiruddin School founded with ADB funds in Bhairab in the morning. He also visited a 450-megawatt power plant in Ashuganj.

He then travelled to Narsinghdi and met Municipality Mayor Kamrul Islam.

Nakao is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday morning and brief the media about his visit in the afternoon.

After the presser, her will meet ADB officials in Dhaka and visit a readymade garment factory.

The donpr agency president is scheduled to leave Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon.

Bangladesh joined ADB in 1973, and in 1982 it became the first ADB member to host a field office.

According to the Manila-based development bank, it has approved $20 billion in loans, grants, and technical assistance for Bangladesh until now.