The World Bank (WB) showed interest to support implementing the Delta Plan 2100 - an ambitious mega project approved in September 2018 for largely development of the people living in the regions. WB’s South Asian Senior Regional Director John Roome expressed his willingness assist Bangladesh to this issue while a four-member delegation led by him paid a courtesy call to Water Resources Minister Zaheed Farooque at his office in the capital on Thursday.
During the meeting, the Minister said that the government has taken initiatives because of the Delta Plan 2100 and the future course of actions to be implemented by the Ministry to address the impact of climate change and related adaptation measures to achieve sustainable growth. ‘Since Delta Plan would deal with a lot of projects and programs, so, there are also challenges needed to face over the long run’- the Minister added.
“As a result, we have to seek support from the global development partners like the WB to achieve the goals of Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100,” the Minister further added. Taking part in the meeting Kabir Bin Anwar, Secretary of the ministry outlined the goals of the all-inclusive plan and asked for detail support from the WB team.
The team leader of the WB-team, Roome reiterated their support to implement the projects and programs related to the Delta Plan by forming a core group who will find the best ways out for cooperation. Program Leader Sanjay Srivastava, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Swarna Kazi and Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, A T M Khaledduzzaman from the World Bank Bangladesh mission and additional secretary of MoWR Mahmudul Islam, joint chief of MoWR Mantu Kumar Biswas and minister’s Private Secretary Nur Alam from MoWR were present in the meeting.