Faced with a country where millions of preschool children suffer stunted growth and are underweight, the World Bank yesterday announced a special $1bn fund to fight malnutrition in Bangladesh.
World Bank Group president Jim Yong Kim made the announcement after a meeting with Bangladeshi Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in Dhaka.
Rates of malnutrition in Bangladesh are among the highest in the world, with nearly 6mn preschool-age children stunted and underweight, according to official documents.
Kim arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a three-day visit to recognise Bangladesh’s success in poverty reduction.
More than 15mn people have moved out of poverty in the South Asian country since 1992.
The fund will be disbursed during the course of the next two years to improve child health and help tackle malnutrition, the visiting chief of the lending agency said.
The World Bank says Bangladesh maintained an impressive record on growth and development in the past decade, with nearly 6 per cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
Nonetheless, nearly 45mn of its population of 160mn are still living below the poverty line, it adds.
“We are with Bangladesh. We continue to assist Bangladesh in several areas including climate change, infrastructure development,” said Kim.
Kim is scheduled to visit a World Bank project in southern Barisal district today to see the progress Bangladesh has made in transitioning successfully to a lower-middle
income country.