The World Bank in Bangladesh
Electronic Newsletter, No. 9                                                                                                     March 2007 Message from the Country Director
Dear Friends
Bangladesh’s economy has been growing at more than 5 per cent a year over the last decade, but in such a way that many new environmental challenges have been created. Economic growth is vital in order to reduce poverty, but it has to be achieved in a sustainable way. Environmental degradation now threatens the health and livelihood of millions of Bangladeshis, especially the poor. In this edition of the newsletter you can read about The Bangladesh Country Environmental Analysis, prepared by the World Bank with the assistance of the Government of Bangladesh. In the report many of the environmental issues now facing the country are outlined along with some recommendations about how they can be tackled. Please email me at the usual address, World Bank Dhaka News with your views on the World Bank in Bangladesh or any other feedback you may have.  Best wishes, Xian Zhu
Country Director Â
********* Highlights 1. Environmental Policies Needed for Sustainable Growth
2. Reviving Inland Water Transport in Bangladesh
3. Strengthening Policy Analysis at Bangladesh Central Bank
4. Gender and Access to Services in South Asia
More from the World Bank
5. World Bank Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy
6. World Bank Supported Projects in Bangladesh
7. Reports and Analyies on Bangladesh from the World Bank
8. 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. Environmental Policies Needed for Sustainable Growth Bangladesh must address key environmental concerns such as air and water pollution and the decline in fisheries, if it is to protect the health and livelihoods of its citizens and achieve sustainable economic growth, according to a report published by the World Bank this month. Bangladesh’s economy has been growing at more than 5 per cent a year over the last decade, but in doing so many new environmental challenges have been created, especially in urban and industrialized areas. While steady economic growth has aided poverty reduction, poor households remain heavily dependent on natural resources that are now under threat. The poor are also vulnerable to environmental health risks caused by air and water pollution. The Bangladesh Country Environmental Analysis found that the environmental damage considered in the report accounted for economic losses equivalent to more than 4 per cent of Bangladesh’s GDP. The report identified three sources of environmental degradation that need priority attention: indoor and urban air pollution, the degradation of water quality in Dhaka, and the decline of capture fisheries. The economic losses associated with these three issues alone amount to more than 2.7 percent of GDP. The World Bank report suggests that by improving access to environmental information and increasing transparency and consultation it will be easier to form and enforce coherent and effective environmental policies. There is also a need for economic policies that promote improved environmental performance.  Click here for CEA Summary |  Press Release English | Bangla ==================================================================== 2. Reviving Inland Water Transport in Bangladesh Bangladesh is a country of rivers and flood plains and water transport offers a cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly means of moving passengers and cargo. It also has the potential to reach poor communities, giving them access to services and markets. However while total transport demand in Bangladesh has been growing by 7 percent a year recently, inland water transport has been declining. A workshop organised jointly by the World Bank and the Bangladesh Inland Water Authority considered a draft World Bank report, 'Revival of Inland Water Transport (IWT): Options and Strategies' and looked at ways in which this decline could be reversed. It focused on the advantages of water transport in a country where a substantial portion of the rural population has no access to road transport, especially in the monsoon season when roads become impassible and in the southern coastal region where the road network is underdeveloped. The draft report points out that it is cheaper to move bulk cargo by boat and, that due to lower fuel consumption, CO2 emissions are less than those created by road transport. Despite its poor reputation, water transport is also considerably safer for passengers than roads, when measured by fatal accidents per kilometer. Among the suggestions put forward to rejuvenate the sector the report proposes improved governance, with the creation of clear lines of responsibility in ministries and agencies. There should also be increased participation of users and greater transparency in how the sector is run and financed. Click here for press release English | Bangla ==================================================================== 3. Strengthening Policy Analysis at Bangladesh Central Bank Two years ago, Bangladesh’s Central Bank, moved to modernize its operations and strengthen its research capacity. As part of this effort the World Bank Institute, the capacity development arm of the World Bank, helped establish a Policy Analysis Unit to enhance the economic analysis skill of Central Bank staff.
The Unit currently has about 20 core staff and is part of the Central Bank's larger research department. It focuses on specialized aspects of monetary and fiscal policy, trade issues and economic forecasting, advising the Central Bank and Government of Bangladesh. In addition it produces several public policy papers, including the Monetary Policy Review and the Financial Sector Review, and holds seminars and public lectures on current macroeconomic issues.
"For the first time, a rigorous analytical input has been introduced in the preparation of Bangladesh Bank policy documents. This will undoubtedly help to set new standards for macroeconomic discourses in the country," praises Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, an eminent economist at Dhaka University and a Director in the Board of the Bangladesh Bank.
Click here for more on the project
===================================================================== 4. Gender and Access to Services in South Asia Women in South Asia are discriminated against in terms of their access to services such as health care, education and justice. Even when women do gain access, they often have to make do with poorer quality services than their male counterparts. This disparity and ways to tackle it was highlighted at a recent seminar in Dhaka sponsored by the World Bank’s Social Development Unit and supported by the Australian Government's AusAid. The seminar, which brought together South Asian academics, Women’s Rights organizations, World Bank staff, civil society and representative of the Government of Bangladesh, was hosted and organized jointly by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and an international social science research network, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population. The results of the seminar will be used by the World Bank as part of the process of preparing the Bangladesh Gender Assessment, to be completed by June. The Bangladesh Gender Assessment measures the country’s progress towards reaching gender equality. Gender equality contributes to economic growth and poverty reduction and is one of Bangladesh’s Millennium Development Goals. More on World Bank work to improve gender equality in South Asia. ====================================================================
 More from the World Bank
6. World Bank Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy
The World Bank’s Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) will guide our operations in Bangladesh during the period 2006-2009. It is strongly focused on governance and is aligned with Bangladesh's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The CAS has two pillars, improving the investment climate and empowering the poor, reflecting 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 are as much about improving governance as they are about improving sector performance.
 Summary of the CAS  English | Bangla        Â
 Download the full CAS
===================================================================== 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.
Brief description of active projects | Detailed descriptions of active projectsÂ
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8. Reports and Analyses from the World Bank
The aim of the Bangladesh Development Series (BDS) is to share 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:
Bangladesh Country Environmental Analysis: Summary - English
To the MDGs and Beyond: Accountability and Institutional Innovation in Bangladesh
Summary - English | Bangla
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 The Bangladesh Vocational Education and Training System: An Assessment
Strengthening Management and Governance in the HNP Sector of Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Strategy for Growth and Employment
Bangladesh: Piloting Reform through the Development and Management of Economic Zones
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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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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This and previous issues along with information on the World Bank in Bangladesh are available on our website
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