Prime Minister’s Adviser for Private Industry and Investment Salman Fazlur Rahman held a meeting with Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington at the latter’s Senate Hart Office Building.
He also met with the World Bank’s Managing Director (Operation), Axel van Trotsenburg, and other high-ranking officials of the global lending body at its headquarter in Washington DC.
Salman is currently visiting the USA as the leader of a high-level delegation in connection with the Bangladesh Investment Roadshow in major US cities, said the Bangladesh embassy in Washington.
During his meeting with Menendez, he discussed various aspects of Bangladesh-US relations.
The Advisor briefed the Senator on the impressive socio-economic development that has taken place in Bangladesh during the last 12 years under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He sought the Senator’s support to further strengthen Bangladesh-US relations, the embassy said.
Senator Menendez noted with appreciation Bangladesh’s economic growth and social progress under the leadership of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In this regard, the Senator also underscored the importance of upholding labor rights and workers’ safety side by side with economic progress.
Adviser Rahman apprised the Senator about various new initiatives taken at the behest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to further improve labor rights and workers’ safety. Referring to the recent fire incident in a factory in Rupgonj, the Adviser apprised the Senator of the formation of a high-powered committee headed by him to inspect building safety and remedial measures.
The meeting was also attended by Senior Secretary of Finance Division AbdurRoufTalukder and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam.
During his meeting with World Bank’s officials on July 28, he highlighted Bangladesh’s unprecedented economic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterating that Bangladesh’s economy was on a solid footing.
In particular, he noted, Bangladesh’s economic performance and the GDP growth of 5.24% despite the global pandemic induced by the Covid-19 was duly acknowledged across the board, which underscored Bangladesh’s macro-economic capability and resilience.
Adviser Rahman recalled the continued financial assistance provided by the World Bank to Bangladesh and thanked the global lending body for its contribution.
He also highlighted the need to reduce procedural delay—through bilateral discussions and close engagement—in the disbursement of the loans sanctioned by the World Bank for Bangladesh to purchase Covid-19 vaccines on an emergency basis.
Md. Trotsenburg acknowledged Bangladesh’s remarkable economic development and growth and reassured that the World Bank’s assistance in Bangladesh’s economic prosperity would continue unabated.
In a separate meeting, the Bangladesh delegation led by Adviser Rahman met with IFC’s South Asia Vice President and the World Bank’s acting South Asia Vice President.
Both sides agreed to accelerate cooperation in crucial areas, including Bangladesh’s reform efforts regarding ease of doing business, BIDA’s institutional capacity enhancement, and skills and human resources development.
In addition to Trotsenburg, the World Bank Group was also represented by John F. Gandolfo, Vice President, South Asia Region, International Finance Corporation (IFC); IllangoPatchamuthu, Acting South Asia Vice President, World Bank; ZoubidaAllaoua, Regional Director, World Bank; Wendy Werner, Country Director Bangladesh, IFC; and Mohammad ShafiulAlam, Bangladesh’s Alternate Executive Director to World Bank.
Salman led the Bangladesh delegation, which included Abdur Rouf Talukder, Senior Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance; Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance; and Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission.
