The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Jamalpur

World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said prices of daily necessities, particularly baby foods, should be kept within buying capacity of the common man. "I will talk to the Bangladesh government to find out a solution to control the soaring prices of daily essentials," she said after observing the sufferings of poor people of Depupar village in Kendua union who are badly hit by the current price rises. The World Bank top official arrived here to visit National Nutrition Program Centre to observe the activities of the Bank-funded Social Investment Program Project.

Iweala's visit to Jamalpur was also to show how government-sponsored community initiatives empower the rural poor, particularly those who are hardest to reach as well as most vulnerable. Later, she went to Sonakata to visit a village cooperative set up under the World Bank-financed Social Investment Program Project (SIPP).

The donor-agency MD went on a walkabout talking to villagers about their welfare. She said she was impressed at the enthusiastic approach of the rural people, specially the women, as they told her that they are now prepared with confidence to fight against poverty. Asked about the World Bank plan regarding SIPP schemes, Iweala said the Bank would continue to assist Bangladesh in eradicating poverty. Locals informed her that they are getting substantial benefits from the SIPP program and requested her to give more funds from the UN-sponsored funding agency, World Bank, so that they can improve their infrastructure in the area.

SIPP has transformed lives of nearly 2 million people living in the 1000 project villages in Jamalpur and Gaibandha by empowering the community to collectively identify, prioritize, plan, fund and implement their development needs.