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The government faces pressure from the World Bank (WB) over fulfilling a number of conditions, including the overhaul of public services, to get a US$150 million development loan.
The Washington-based lending agency has already driven home the message that Bangladesh might lose the fourth tranche of the Development Support Credit (DSC) unless it pushed forward reforms in power sector and the civil service.
Relevant sources said visiting Executive Director of the WB Dhanendra Kumar might take up the issues when he meets with Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman today (Monday) at the latter's Planning Ministry office.
Sources said the WB considers the frequent retendering in the case of power sector projects as a huge financial drain.
Besides, the global financial institution has been pressing the government to open up the top public sector jobs to competent private sector people as part of a broader reform in civil administration, plagued by inefficiency and corruption.
The appointment of a WB-nominated consultant for the Siddirganj picking plant project is among the conditions linked up to the disbursement of the next tranche of the development credit.
In the meeting, Saifur is likely to brief the WB executive about the current state of the economy and the macroeconomic stability.
But the finance minister may have to explain the reasons for the delay in the enactment of the Public Procurement Law.
Although the cabinet has approved the draft law, the relevant Bill is yet to be tabled in parliament.
The WB official is scheduled to make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on the day.
The day's programme includes separate meetings with Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Ismail Jabiullah and Grameen Bank Managing Director Dr Muhammad Yunus.
Meantime, the WB high official visited a project of the Rural Electrification Board (REB) in Tangail and inspected the activities of the Grameen Bank and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) Sunday in Manikganj.
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