IDB to give Tk 1,000cr loan for housing projects

KMA Hasnat: The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) approved 9.47 crore Euro in loans for the development of housing sectors in Bangladesh. The amount stands at about Tk 1,000 crore.

A deal was signed in this regard at the 43^rd annual meeting of IDB in Tunisia on Tuesday, according to a source at the finance ministry.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on behalf of Bangladesh side and IDB President Bandar M. H. Hajjar signed the agreement. Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Shafiqul Islam and other high officials were present during the signing ceremony.

The Jeddah-based lending agency will give the loan to Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC). IDB approved the loan at its board meeting held in July last year. This finance will be used for the development of residences of the urban and rural areas in the country.

According to ERD sources, the BHBFC has undertaken a project titled “Rural and Urban Housing Project in Bangladesh” to construct multi-storeyed buildings. This loan has been taken from the IDB for this purpose.

With the financial assistance from IDB, state-owned Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) will provide low-cost home financing to low-income rural people living outside the metropolis of Dhaka and Chattogram.

IDB will lend the money to Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) through the Finance Ministry.

The loan would be disbursed under 'Pallima Scheme', a newly launched scheme of the corporation.

The main objectives of the project are to ensure access of the Rural and peri-urban people in Housing Finance and to save the agriculture lands from being eroded for housing purposes.

Under the project, loans would be distributed to construct some 7976 units both in rural areas, and peri-urban areas which will provide support to some 47,856 people.

According to BHBFC officials, loans would be distributed to construct 4,050 units in rural areas, 2,825 units in peri-urban areas and 1,101 units for non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).

The approval was given at the 320th meeting of the Board of Executive Directors of the Jeddah-based development bank.

Before signing the agreement, Muhith informed the IDB President of the current economic development trend of Bangladesh which has culminated to the country's graduation from LDC to a developing one and said it has been possible due to the political stability restored by current regime and the prudent macroeconomic policies undertaken by the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Muhith also informed the IDB President that Bangladesh has a dynamic private sector which is actually setting the trend and pace of country's development.

The finance minister said the disbursements pace of IDB funded projects are relatively slow. Establishment of a gateway office might be a catalyst to resolve the issue, he added.

In response the IDB President said that the IDB is moving towards a massive decentralisation and the Country Gateway Offices and Regional Hubs will be delegated with more authority which is expected to accelerate the implementation activities.

In reply, Muhith requested him to ensure the establishment of it by June 2018 so that it can be reflected in his budget speech for the upcoming fiscal year. The IDB President assured his all out support in this regard.

During the meeting, Muhith drew attention of the IDB President to the state sponsored nefarious atrocity committed by the Myanmar government against the Rohingya Muslims.

He said Bangladesh is at present hosting more than 1 million Rohingyas which has been exerting a heavy toll on the economy of the country.

Muhith sought support of the member countries and the Muslim world alongside the multilateral and UN agencies to ensure livelihood and safe repatriation of the Rohingyas.

The IDB President assured him of taking joint efforts to address the concern.


risingbd/Dhaka/April 4, 2018/Hasnat/AI