Bangladesh, World Bank sign $850 million deal to boost jobs, trade

Bangladesh clinched two World Bank credits worth $850 million on Wednesday—$650 million to overhaul Chittagong’s Bay Terminal and $200 million to strengthen social protection—aiming to cut shipping costs, spur jobs and aid 4.5 million vulnerable citizens.

The World Bank and Bangladesh have signed two concessional loan agreements totaling $850 million to boost trade capacity, spur job creation and modernise the country’s social-safety net, the lender announced on Wednesday.

$650 million for Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development – The funds will finance a six-kilometre, climate-resilient breakwater and new access channels at Chittagong, enabling the port to handle larger vessels. Officials expect shorter turnaround times and lower transport costs to save the economy about $1 million a day. When finished, the terminal should process roughly 36 percent of Bangladesh’s container traffic, benefiting more than one million people and expanding opportunities for women in port operations and trade.

$200 million for social-protection reform – The Strengthening Social Protection for Improved Resilience, Inclusion and Targeting project will deliver cash transfers, skills training, micro-credit and entrepreneurship mentoring to 4.5 million vulnerable people—especially youth, women, persons with disabilities and residents of climate-affected areas. A national registry will be created to sharpen beneficiary targeting and service delivery.

Both credits come from the World Bank’s International Development Association, which has committed over $45 billion to Bangladesh since 1971. Sustaining growth, said interim country director Gayle Martin, requires generating quality jobs for the nearly two million young Bangladeshis who enter the labour market each year.

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