Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought a special fund from the World Bank (WB) to create more women entrepreneurs for their socio-economic advancement and more loans at concessionary rates to implement climate-related projects.

"You [WB] can give a special fund for the socio-economic development of the womenfolk in Bangladesh. The special fund will expedite the government efforts to create women entrepreneurs," she said.

The prime minister made the remarks when WB Managing Director (Operations) Anna Bjerde paid a courtesy call on her at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) in Dhaka this afternoon.

PM's Speechwriter M Nazrul Islam briefed the newsmen after the meeting.

About Bangladesh's measures for ensuring the financial inclusion of women, Sheikh Hasina said they have been working to flourish women entrepreneurs.

"We have been working for empowering women as the topmost priority. Equal opportunities have been ensured for both men and women. So, there is no gender disparity in Bangladesh," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said women now have been working in every sector stretching from agriculture to the armed forces, police, and judiciary.

She said women's advancement has been possible as the mindset of the people has changed due to measures taken by her government.

The government has also been working for marketing products produced by women entrepreneurs, she continued.

The prime minister said her government has preserved a 30% quota in the local government elections to ensure women's political empowerment.

She said Bangladesh ensures sustainable development while implementing any project or development programmes involving climate change and climate resilience issues.

She said Bangladesh is one of the pioneers in sustainable development programmes. "WB can provide more loans to us at concessionary rates for the climate change and climate resilience projects."

On containing differences of foreign currencies between market rate and bank rate, she said the central bank has rolled out a plan to introduce a crawling peg system for Taka to regulate abrupt fluctuations of its value.

Anna Bjerde put emphasis on the reforms of macro and micro economy of Bangladesh. "We are assisting Bangladesh to pursue the reforms and will continue the cooperation for expediting the reforms." 

She appreciated Bangladesh for doing well in reforms and stressed the need for quick implementation of the World Bank-funded projects.

"Bangladesh will get new funds as soon as the World Bank-funded projects will be implemented," she said.

She also called for infusing dynamism into project preparation and implementation as well.

Anna Bjerde is in Dhaka on a one-day official visit.

PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, and Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky were present.