World Bank, through its International Development Association (IDA), has signed a $270 million financing agreement with the Government of Bangladesh to support the ‘Bangladesh Sustainable Recovery, Emergency Preparedness and Response Project (B-STRONG)’. The agreement was signed on 25th May 2025 by Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, and Gayle Martin, acting country director of the World Bank in Dhaka.
The B-STRONG project aims to facilitate recovery and reconstruction efforts following the devastating August 2024 floods, with a focus on repairing flood-damaged roads and embankments and rehabilitating affected farmers. It also seeks to enhance disaster preparedness, build long-term resilience, and support agricultural and economic development.
Implementation will be carried out from July 2025 to December 2030 by several agencies, including the Bangladesh Water Development Board, Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Department of Disaster Management, Local Government Engineering Department, and the Social Development Foundation.
The loan is structured for a 30-year repayment period, including a 5-year grace period. It carries a 1.25% annual interest rate and a 0.75% service charge. While a commitment fee of up to 0.50% applies, the World Bank has traditionally waived this charge.
This funding underscores the World Bank’s continued support for Bangladesh, which has received over $43.5 billion since independence. Currently, the World Bank is financing $13.1 billion across 47 active projects in various sectors including infrastructure, social development, energy, and institutional reform.
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