Bangladesh 40 Years of Partnership with the Asian Development Bank

Abstract

Bangladesh has made impressive socioeconomic gains with a steady rise in its gross domestic product, a decrease in overall rates of poverty, boost in social development, and steady movement toward achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been a key partner in Bangladesh’s struggle for a better future since 1973 by contributing to critical economic and governance reforms. As of November 2013, ADB's cumulative lending for Bangladesh amounted to about $15.3 billion for 242 loans, and technical assistance grants amounted to about $232.41 million for 402 projects. The country is also one of the largest recipients of concessional Asian Development Fund resources. ADB has been the second-largest source of financing, and one of the lead development partners in the energy, water supply and sanitation, agriculture and natural resources, finance, education, and transport sectors of Bangladesh.