<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>World Bank vice president for the South Asia Region, Martin Raiser arrives in Dhaka on Monday (September 19, 2022) on his maiden visit to Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Bangladesh has made impressive achievements in development and economic growth. The World Bank is proud to be a partner in this remarkable journey for the past 50 years,” said Raiser on Saturday ahead of his visit to Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“As the countries in South Asia grapple with a multitude of shocks from COVID to climate change and rising global inflation, I look forward to learning about Bangladesh’s experience in building resilience,” he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During his three-day visit to the country, Raiser will meet Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, along with other senior government officials, and discuss World Bank support to address the country’s development priorities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He will also meet development partners, leaders from the private sector, civil society, and think tanks, said the global lending agency on Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Raiser, a German national, assumed the role of the World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region on July 1, 2022.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before taking on this role, he worked as the Country Director for China, Mongolia, and Director of Korea. He also held positions of the Country Director for Turkey and Country Director for Brazil.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh following its independence.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since then, the World Bank has committed more than $37 billion in grants, interest-free, and concessional credits to the country. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>