Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Sunday praised the World Bank for its continued support towards Bangladesh’s development. He said Bangladesh's growth has increased by 74 times since 1972, and the World Bank had a role to play behind it. “After independence, the country's GDP growth was only $6.3 billion, which has now increased to $465 billion,” he said. Kamal said this while speaking as the chief guest as the World Bank and Bangladesh celebrated its 50 years of partnership at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital on Sunday. Also Read: WB cuts Bangladesh growth target by 0.9 percent to 5.2 percent The Finance Minister also said that Bangladesh is currently the 35th largest economy, and the poverty rate has come down to 20 percent, per capita income increased to $2,824 and average life expectancy increased to 73 years. Also read: World Bank managing director to arrive in Dhaka Saturday Highlighting the future plans, the Finance Minister said, “Our next target will be to turn Bangladesh into an upper-middle income country by 2031, and a Smart Developed Bangladesh in 2041.” World Bank Managing Director (Operation) Axel van Trotsenbur, World Bank South Asian Region Vice President Martin Riser, Economic Relations Division Secretary Sharifa Khan, and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Abdoulaye Seck, among others, spoke at the function.    

World Bank (WB) new Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser has said the WB will remain beside Bangladesh as a partner in adopting economic policies to overcome the challenges of development. Raiser said this at a meeting with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday night. This is his first visit to Bangladesh after taking over as WB Vice President. Martin Raiser arrived in Dhaka on September 19 on a three-day visit. Raiser praised Bangladesh's economic development in the meeting with the Finance Minister. He also appreciated the timely steps taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to face the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic situation. Read: Martin Raiser World Bank's new VP for S Asia The finance minister said that the WB is one of the development partners of Bangladesh. The organization has provided budget support to various development projects in Bangladesh including education, health, electricity, and disaster management sectors. Kamal also thanked the WB for its support in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic . The Finance Minister emphasized further partnership of the World Bank in various initiatives for the socio-economic development of the country. Raiser called the continuity of Bangladesh's progress an exemplary example for many countries in the world and said that Bangladesh is one of the countries receiving the highest IDA loans. Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, Finance Department Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin, Economic Relations Department Secretary Sharifa Khan, Financial Institutions Department Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Saleem Ullah, and others were present at the meeting.

Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau has said after five decades, Bangladesh has emerged as one of the most prospective partners of Poland in South Asia. He has also sought deeper cooperation in the economic, political, cultural and scientific domains with Bangladesh . "Both Polish and Bangladeshi economies have witnessed dynamic development and a steady increase in mutual trade exchanges," said Zbigniew Rau in a recent letter to his Bangladesh counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen. READ: Poland hands over token vaccine doses under 3.2-mn AZ donation The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and Bangladesh marks an important milestone in our bilateral relationship, he said.  On this occasion, the Polish Foreign Minister  extended his heartfelt congratulations to Foreign Minister Dr Momen and all citizens of Bangladesh who have contributed to the strengthening of cooperation over the past half-century. Poland was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Bangladesh. "I believe that these solid foundations will translate into deeper cooperation in the economic, political, cultural and scientific domains," said Minister Rau. Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional political exchanges, the two countries need to stay together, he said. "Therefore, Poland expressed its solidarity with the people of Bangladesh by donating over three million doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine. This gesture reflects the importance that Poland attaches to the relations with Bangladesh," said the Foreign Minister. He hoped that in the years ahead friendship the two countries will continue to grow, serving the interests of both our countries and peoples. READ: Bangladesh to get 5mn AstraZeneca jabs from Poland, KSA: FM The Polish Foreign Minister hoped to have a personal meeting with Dr Momen at a convenient time and conveyed his best wishes for good health and prosperity.

Youth-focused smartphone brand realme has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with online marketplace Daraz for developing its online channel and sales in Bangladesh and other countries. Read Best Sites to Sell Used Electronics in Bangladesh Both companies expect to leverage each other's capabilities and produce something more enthralling for the customers and smartphone users. Realme is now the world's seventh-largest smartphone vendor with a user base of over 85 million. Apart from introducing stylish smartphone and AIoT products, realme has established a stronghold in the global market through partnering with leading e-commerce companies in different markets. Read realme C25s Review: G85 Equipped Powerful Gaming Smartphone Tony Lin, realme's e-commerce head of Southeast Asia and South Asia, said: "Together with Daraz, realme will be bringing more of its smartphone and AIoT products portfolio to Bangladesh, empowering the tech life of the youths."  "It's refreshing to see realme taking advantage of the full range of opportunities that e-commerce brings in South Asia, targeting a particularly young audience," said Jan Philipp Poeter, the chief commercial officer of Daraz Group.  Read Best Upcoming Phones in July 2021 in Bangladesh: Official and Unofficial