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Electronic Newsletter, Issue # 7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
January 2007 Message from Acting Country Director Dear Friends, Once again the past month has been overshadowed by the continuing political tensions. I, like many other friends of Bangladesh, strongly hope that solutions will be found to the present difficulties and that Bangladesh can again continue on its path to a brighter future. There is no doubt that this country has the potential for rapid economic development and poverty alleviation. Just look at the explosive growth in the telecom sector that is covered in this newsletter. Much of this progress has been driven by competing private mobile operators, while the role of the Government of Bangladesh has been to provide a conducive environment. To strengthen this role the World Bank is supporting the Government's reform efforts to develop its institutional capacity and expertise, so the country can take full advantage of international best practices as well as the latest advances in telecommunications. Of course it's not just in telecom that the Government needs professional and motivated staff, as a recent World Bank study highlighted. The study, which is reported on below, outlines ways in which Bangladesh's civil service can be improved in order to ensure efficient and effective delivery of public services. Finally I would like to draw your attention to the steps the Government is taking to prepare the country for any potential outbreak of Avian Flu. The moves, supported by the World Bank and other donor partners, are aimed at ensuring that any eventual outbreak of the disease can be contained. You can email me at the usual address, wbdhakanews@worldbank.org with your views or any other feedback you may have. Best wishes, Mohamed Alhousseyni Toure
Acting Country Director Highlights 1. Rapid Growth in Bangladesh's Telecom Sector
2. Supporting Bangladesh's Avian Influenza Program
3. Improving Bangladesh's Civil Service
4. The Overuse of Pesticides
5. World Bank seeks views on Governance and Anti-corruption Strategy (Deadline: 26 Jan 2007) More from the World Bank 6. World Bank Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy
7. World Bank Supported Projects in Bangladesh
8. Reports and Analysis on Bangladesh from the World Bank
9. Global Reading from the World Bank (Please visit us at http://www.worldbank.org.bd to download these and other documents)
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1.Rapid growth in Bangladesh's telecom sector
In the last two years, Bangladesh has seen explosive growth in the telecommunication sector. The country now has over 16 million mobile phone subscribers, with tele-density, the percentage of the population with telephones, up from 1 per cent in 2003 to over 11 per cent in 2006. The growth has been led by several fiercely competing mobile phone operators, while the Government of Bangladesh has provided an environment conducive to growth.Since 2003 the World Bank, through the Telecommunications Technical Assistance Project (TAPP), has provided around US$9 million in financing in order to help the Government strengthen its institutional and policy capacity in the telecoms sector. The work has included the setting up of a Spectrum Management and Monitoring System, an important tool in managing and allocating frequencies used for mobile communication.
The World Bank is also supporting the Government's move to transform the Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board into a more efficient organization. more>>
Read the story in Bangla | Download project documents ====================================================================== 2. Supporting Bangladesh's Avian Influenza Program
Since 2003, when the first Highly Pathogenic strain of Avian Influenza (AI) virus was identified in South-East Asia, the virus has spread widely in Asia and parts of Europe. So far there have been no reported cases of Avian Flu in Bangladesh, but the country is regarded as at risk of experiencing a potential outbreak. In order to prepare for any eventual outbreak the World Bank plans to support Bangladesh's Avian Influenza Program for the next five years.
The program is wide ranging dealing with both human and animal health. It will include strengthening disease surveillance and improving diagnostic capacity and laboratory facilities. Support will be given to veterinary research and the surveillance of migratory birds.
Another part of the program will focus on raising public awareness about the disease and ways in which a possible epidemic can be prevented and contained. more>> Read the story in Bangla | Download project documents | More on Avian Flu ====================================================================== 3. Improving Bangladesh's Civil Service An efficient and effective Civil Service capable of delivering services in a timely and cost efficient manner is essential for the development of Bangladesh.  A recent study by the World Bank recommends ways to modernize the Bangladesh Civil Service and help it become a merit-based organization. The study looks into the promotion system in the Civil Service and suggests ways of making it reward based and motivational. According to the report, there is an urgent need to revamp the recruitment process and performance assessments of senior Civil Service staff. The study also examines past unsuccessful reform attempts and suggests what lessons can be learnt from these experiences. more>> Read the story in Bangla ===================================================================== 4. Overusing Pesticides in Bangladesh Almost 50 per cent of Bangladeshi farmers use more pesticides than needed for their crops and almost all these farmers use little or no protection while applying pesticides. These are some of the results of a recent World Bank survey into the use of pesticides in the country. The study that looked at the techniques of 820 growers of boro (winter rice), potato, bean, eggplant, cabbage, sugarcane and mango. Each year 20,000 farmers die globally from pesticide poisoning - many of them from developing countries. A team of World Bank researchers analyzed data from Bangladesh on pesticide handling behavior and its effect on farmers' health. The research found that there is an urgent need to promote safer pesticide use and hygienic practices among farmers. Research findings also highlighted the need for policy-makers to design effective, targeted outreach programs that address pesticide risk, safe handling and protection.more>> =========================================================================================
5. World Bank seeks views on Governance and Anti-corruption strategy The critical importance of improving governance and fighting corruption in order to ensure successful development has come to the center of the World Bank’s work in recent years. In September 2006, the Development Committee -- the World Bank’s policy-setting board -- discussed a paper which articulates the World Bank Group’s new strategy for strengthening its engagement on governance and anti-corruption. The Committee provided guidance on the development and implementation of the strategy, and this work includes further consultation with external partners and stakeholders.Â
Over the next couple of months, the World Bank will consult with representatives from government, donors, civil society, private sector, academia and other stakeholders and seek feedback on the approach laid out in the strategy paper, eliciting ideas, best practices and lessons learned. This process has already begun in Bangladesh with a series of meetings being held. In addition to face-to-face discussions, the World Bank is also looking for written feedback. The findings of the consultation process will help the World Bank to refine the strategy, which will be sent to the World Bank’s Board for endorsement in the first quarter of 2007.Â
At its heart, the World Bank’s approach is about broader engagement with those groups that are already on the front lines of improving governance and fighting corruption. We strongly encourage you to share your written feedback by sending your comments to governancefeedback@worldbank.org or by typing in your views directly on our governance website. Deadline for receiving feedback is 26 January 2007
Governance and Anticorruption Strategy | Participate in the global consultation ========================================================================= More from the World Bank
6. World Bank Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy
The World Bank’s Country Assistance Strategy will guide the Bank’s operations in Bangladesh during the period 2006-2009. It is strongly focused on governance and is aligned with Bangladesh’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). The strategies’ two pillars, improving the investment climate and empowering the poor, reflect the focus of the World Bank’s programs across sectors. These programs will address sector governance issues in both pillars, as well as ‘core’ governance, such as public procurement, public financial management, and judiciary reform. This mainstreaming of governance implies that all Bank Group interventions will be as much about improving governance as they will be about improving sector performance.
Download the entire CAS | Summary in English | Summary in Bangla
================================================================== 7. World Bank supported Projects and Programs in Bangladesh
The World Bank supports 27 ongoing government projects in Bangladesh and is active in a wide range of sectors including health, education, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture, local government and financial sector reform, as well as public procurement and financial management reform. Detailed description of active projects | Brief description of active projects
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8. Reports and Analysis from the World Bank
The aim of the Bangladesh Development Series (BDS) is to distribute the World Bank's country analytical work on Bangladesh. BDS is a valuable source of information for strengthening policy dialogue and developing and implementing country strategies.
Please click on the following titles to download these Bangladesh Development Series reports: India-Bangladesh Bilateral Trade and Potential Free Trade Agreement; Summary: English | Bangla Economics and Governance of NGOs in Bangladesh  ; Summary: English | Bangla Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy 2006-2009 ; Summary:English | Bangla   Social Safety Nets in Bangladesh: An Assessment Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project, Effectiveness and Lessons Learned Revitalizing the Agricultural Technology System in Bangladesh ; Summary: English | Bangla Targeting Resources for the Poor in Bangladesh ; Summary: English | Bangla Comparative Advantages of Health Care Provision ; Summary: English | Bangla Bangladesh Water Country Assistance Strategy ; Summary: English | Bangla End of MFA Quotas: Key Issues and Strategic Options for Bangladesh Ready Made Garment Industry ; Summary: English Bangladesh PRSP Forum Economic Update - Recent Developments and Future Perspectives
Forthcoming Publications
Bangladesh Country Environmental Analysis
An Evaluation of Recent Health Decentralization Initiatives in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Strategy for Growth and Employment
Bangladesh: Vocational Education and Training ==================================================================
9. Global reading from the World Bank The World Bank is also a "Knowledge Bank", each year producing a steady flow of publications and research. Over 15,000 documents and publications are available free of cost on our website. Search and download global World Bank publications Recent highlights World Development Indicators (WDI) 2006 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To suggest further names to receive this newsletter, please send an e-mail to: wbdhakanews@worldbank.org with the subject line: New subscriber To unsubscribe, please send an e-mail to: wbdhakanews@worldbank.org with the subject line: Unsubscribe. This and previous issues along with information on the World Bank in Bangladesh are available on our website: http:\\www.worldbank.org.bd To get a hard copy of any our publications, please contact Razia Rouf at the World Bank Office Dhaka (Tel: 8159001, E-mail: rrouf@worldbank.org)
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