Staff Reporter :
The World Bank (WB) has approved $250 million in financing to support Bangladesh’s efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency across key government institutions.
The funding, allocated under the “Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA) Project,” aims to advance the country’s ongoing public sector reform agenda.
It will focus on modernising core operations such as data transparency, tax administration, public investment management, procurement systems, and financial oversight, the Bank announced on Saturday.
The project will target five key institutions: the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Planning Division, the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA), and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG).
“This investment leverages digital tools to strengthen transparency and curb corruption, helping Bangladesh align its public institutions with its broader development objectives,” said Gayle Martin, World Bank Interim Country Director for Bangladesh. “It will also enhance service delivery and foster public confidence.”
Among the project’s core goals are the modernisation of tax systems, increased compliance, and improved fiscal sustainability, driven by greater data accessibility and operational efficiency.
The World Bank also confirmed it is working with the government of Bangladesh on a separate development policy credit, expected to be discussed later this month.
That initiative will support wider reforms in areas such as revenue mobilisation, banking sector resilience, data dissemination, investment management, auditing practices, and the delivery of social programmes.
Souleymane Coulibaly, Task Team Leader and Lead Country Economist at the World Bank, commented: “This project adopts a holistic approach to strengthening five vital institutions, laying the groundwork for more effective governance and sustainable economic growth.”
