WB lends $200m to Bangladesh

DHAKA: The World Bank said on Wednesday it would lend US$200 million to Bangladesh for rehabilitation programs following last year's devastating floods that left large swathes of the country submerged for weeks.

The package would help fund the repair of roads, bridges and schools damaged by the flooding, the heaviest suffered by Bangladesh since those in 1998 that were the country's worst ever, a World Bank statement said.

Credit would be also given to about 400,000 low-income households to help reestablish ruined livelihoods, it added.

Floods during July and August 2004 killed more than 700 people and left 38 percent of the country under water.

Millions had to flee their homes. -- AFP