UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh will need minimum US$ 74 billion of investment to bridge infrastructure gap by 2020 to remove poverty, says a new World Bank report.
The report estimates that a total of US$ 74-100 billion is needed to develop infrastructure in the country by 2020 while US$ 36-45 billion in transport sector, US$ 11-16.5 billion in power sector, US$ 12-18 billion in water and sanitation services, US$ 2.1-4.5 billion in solid waste management, US$ 5 billion in telecommunication and US$ 7.7-4.2 billion in irrigation.
It also predicts that Bangladesh will require investing about 7.38 to10 percent of its total GDP on infrastructure per year up to 2020 to improve the transport, water and sanitation, power and irrigation sector to cut its poverty.
The World Bank report, ‘Reducing Poverty by Closing South Asia’s Infrastructure Gap’, was shared with reporters of three South Asian countries-Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan-from the WB Washington office through a video conferencing on Wednesday.
Authors of the report-Luis Andres, Dan Biller and Matias Herrera Dappe spoke at the video conference.
The report which is the first analysis of the region’s infrastructure by the World Bank, said South Asia, including Bangladesh,
will require spending as much as US$ 2.5 trillion on infrastructure by 2020 to bring its power grids, roads and water supplies up to the standard needed to serve its growing population.
It says the region, which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, could address its “enormous” infrastructure needs by tapping private and public sector funds as well as by introducing reforms.
If the region hopes to meet its development goals and not risk slowing down-or even halting-growth, poverty alleviation, and shared prosperity, it is essential to make a priority of closing its huge infrastructure gap, which the report defines as the gap between where South Asia’s infrastructure is today and where it should be.
The task would be difficult but not impossible with a concerted effort by governments in the region, where access to infrastructure compares with Sub-Saharan Africa.
Bangladesh will need minimum US$ 74 billion of investment to bridge infrastructure gap by 2020 to remove poverty, says a new World Bank report.
The report estimates that a total of US$ 74-100 billion is needed to develop infrastructure in the country by 2020 while US$ 36-45 billion in transport sector, US$ 11-16.5 billion in power sector, US$ 12-18 billion in water and sanitation services, US$ 2.1-4.5 billion in solid waste management, US$ 5 billion in telecommunication and US$ 7.7-4.2 billion in irrigation.
It also predicts that Bangladesh will require investing about 7.38 to10 percent of its total GDP on infrastructure per year up to 2020 to improve the transport, water and sanitation, power and irrigation sector to cut its poverty.
The World Bank report, ‘Reducing Poverty by Closing South Asia’s Infrastructure Gap’, was shared with reporters of three South Asian countries-Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan-from the WB Washington office through a video conferencing on Wednesday.
Authors of the report-Luis Andres, Dan Biller and Matias Herrera Dappe spoke at the video conference.
The report which is the first analysis of the region’s infrastructure by the World Bank, said South Asia, including Bangladesh,
will require spending as much as US$ 2.5 trillion on infrastructure by 2020 to bring its power grids, roads and water supplies up to the standard needed to serve its growing population.
It says the region, which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, could address its “enormous” infrastructure needs by tapping private and public sector funds as well as by introducing reforms.
If the region hopes to meet its development goals and not risk slowing down-or even halting-growth, poverty alleviation, and shared prosperity, it is essential to make a priority of closing its huge infrastructure gap, which the report defines as the gap between where South Asia’s infrastructure is today and where it should be.
The task would be difficult but not impossible with a concerted effort by governments in the region, where access to infrastructure compares with Sub-Saharan Africa.
