World Bank vice president Martin Raiser arrives in Dhaka today

World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region, Martin Raiser, will arrive in Dhaka today (Saturday).

He will be accompanied by the incoming Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, Abdoulaye Seck.

During his three-day visit, Raiser will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Finance Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, along with other senior government officials.

He will introduce Seck, who will assume the position of the World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan on January 1, 2023. They will also visit a World Bank-supported project, said a press release.

A Senegalese national, Seck joined the World Bank in 1995 as an economist and has since held leadership positions in different countries.

Prior to taking this assignment, Seck served as the Country Director for Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. He also served as the World Bank Country Manager for Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Moldova.

The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh following its independence. Since then, the World Bank has committed more than $37 billion in grants, interest-free, and concessional credits to the country. Bangladesh currently has the largest ongoing International Development Association (IDA) program totaling over $15.7 billion in 55 active projects.