Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has voiced concern over the World Bank’s loan offer to Bangladesh to deal with the challenges emerged after Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh amid persecution in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
In a statement on Thursday, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said it is informed from newspaper reports that the World Bank is trying to provide loan assistance to Bangladesh for addressing the Rohingya crisis, which is unethical, unacceptable and a matter of concern as well.
Taking advantage of the human catastrophic, he said the World Bank’s initiative to increase loan burden on Bangladesh in the name of assistance is nothing but the expansion of its interest business.
The TIB chief said if the global bank has good intention to help Bangladesh deal with Rohingya crisis, it must refrain from increasing loan burden on Bangladesh. As a donor agency, the World Bank should continue mounting pressure on Myanmar to repatriate their displaced people, he added.
Iftekharuzzaman asked the government to strengthen diplomatic efforts to get interest-free financial assistance from international agencies, including the World Bank, to address the demand of Rohingya people.
