Foreign aid disbursement drops 30pc

The disbursement of foreign aid for development projects in Bangladesh has dropped by 30 per cent year-on-year in the first three months of the current fiscal year. 

During this July-September period, Bangladesh's development partners disbursed $1,349 million for the country, as per data from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) released yesterday.

The government repaid foreign debts amounting to $526 million in the first quarter, down 11 per cent year-on-year.

However, the commitment of development partners also increased by 331 per cent year-on-year from $94.03 million in the past three months.

Among the country's development partners, Japan disbursed the highest amount of foreign aid, $450 million, for a number of mega projects, including the Matarbari coal-fired power plant, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib railway bridge, and a third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

China disbursed the second highest, $270 million, while World Bank $190 million and Asian Development Bank $160 million.