The World Bank has approved US$250 million in financing to help Bangladesh strengthen transparency, accountability and institutional capacity across five pivotal government agencies under a far-reaching governance reform initiative.
According to a statement issued by the World Bank's Dhaka office on Sunday, the funding will support the Strengthening Institutions for Transparency and Accountability (SITA) project, aimed at modernising public institutions through digital transformation, institutional reforms and enhanced governance mechanisms.
The programme will benefit five strategic institutions: the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Planning Division, the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA), and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The World Bank noted that stronger public institutions, greater transparency and more reliable data are essential for Bangladesh to accelerate economic growth, generate employment and achieve its long-term development ambitions. While the country has made significant strides in public sector management, persistent weaknesses in public financial administration, statistical systems, procurement practices and domestic revenue mobilisation continue to undermine efficiency and constrain economic expansion.
The SITA project seeks to address these challenges through an ambitious programme of digital modernisation and institutional strengthening.
Under the initiative, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics will establish an integrated national data ecosystem designed to improve the generation, accessibility and use of high-quality statistics, enabling more evidence-based policymaking.
The National Board of Revenue will overhaul tax administration through automation, e-invoicing and integrated digital platforms aimed at boosting compliance and enhancing domestic revenue collection.
