EIB Offers EU Expertise to Support Bangladesh’s Interim Government Reforms
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has expressed its readiness to provide technical expertise through the European Union (EU) to assist Bangladesh’s interim government in implementing key reforms. This commitment was conveyed by EIB Vice President Nicola Beer during her meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday (January 8) at the State Guest House Jamuna.
Present at the meeting were Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfe Siddiqui, BIDA Chairman Ashiq Mahmud Chowdhury, Senior Secretary for SDG Affairs Lamia Morshed, ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiqui, and EU Ambassador Michael Miller, among others.
According to meeting sources, Nicola Beer emphasized the EIB’s full support for the interim government’s reform agenda. She stated, “We have come at a very challenging time; we support the interim government and its reform agenda. The European Union has the technical expertise to assist this government.”
She further urged the government to communicate its needs, adding, “Please let us know what we can do. It is important to show that Bangladesh’s interim government is not only working but also delivering results.”
Describing the present as “a time of opportunity,” Dr. Yunus sought EIB’s assistance in combating corruption, transitioning to green energy, and drafting a comprehensive plan for preserving the Sundarbans mangrove forest, its surrounding areas, and river systems. He also requested support for infrastructure development at Chattogram Port to benefit the people of eastern Bangladesh and for water management initiatives in northern regions.
Dr. Yunus highlighted, “The development of eastern Bangladesh at the region’s largest port will also benefit eastern India and Myanmar.”
Recalling his meeting with EU President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last September, Dr. Yunus noted their discussions on combating corruption and enhancing Bangladesh’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
