New Development Bank Reviews Expansion of Development Financing During Bangladesh Visit
Dhaka, The New Development Bank (NDB) is looking to deepen its cooperation with Bangladesh as the multilateral lender explores a wider pipeline of infrastructure and development projects in the country.
NDB Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Roman Serov visited Dhaka from August 15 to 17, 2026, where he held discussions with senior Bangladeshi officials about expanding the bank’s operations and supporting the country’s development priorities.
Discussions With Bangladesh’s Finance Ministry
During the visit, Serov met Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s Finance Minister. The discussions included infrastructure projects that are already receiving support from NDB as well as potential projects that could form part of the bank’s future lending pipeline.
Bangladesh welcomed NDB’s plans to increase lending in the country. Several potential areas were highlighted, including the Dhaka–Chittagong Chord Line, Chittagong Airport Regional Cargo Hub, road and railway capacity expansion, and tourism-related development.
The discussions also covered the possibility of establishing a trade-finance facility for imports by state-owned companies. NDB support for Bangladesh’s plans involving Panda Bonds was another issue discussed during the meeting.
NDB Looks at Bangladesh’s Financial Sector
The NDB delegation also met Md Mostaqur Rahman, Governor of Bangladesh Bank.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the development bank and Bangladesh’s financial sector. NDB highlighted its interest in supporting the development of the country’s capital market and expanding cooperation with domestic banks and financial institutions.
Greater cooperation with local financial institutions could potentially broaden access to development financing while helping Bangladesh build stronger channels for investment and infrastructure funding.
Five-Year Development Framework Discussed
Serov also met Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division and an Alternate Governor of the NDB.
Their discussions covered the bank’s operations in Bangladesh and the government’s Five-Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development.
Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division indicated its willingness to work closely with NDB to expand the institution’s activities and support sustainable-development projects in the country.
Focus on Infrastructure and Sustainable Growth
The visit comes as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen infrastructure, transport connectivity and investment capacity while pursuing broader economic reforms.
For NDB, Bangladesh represents an important member country in its expanding network of development-finance operations. The bank has identified infrastructure and sustainable development as central areas of its mandate.
The latest discussions indicate that future NDB involvement in Bangladesh could extend beyond individual infrastructure projects to include transport networks, logistics, trade finance, capital-market development and other areas connected with long-term economic growth.
What Comes Next?
The August visit did not represent the signing of a single new large loan agreement. Instead, it focused on building cooperation and developing a pipeline of possible projects.
The discussions could therefore serve as a foundation for future financing decisions as NDB and Bangladeshi authorities evaluate specific proposals and their financial and development requirements.
With Bangladesh seeking additional investment for infrastructure and economic development, closer cooperation with NDB could provide another source of long-term development financing for projects considered strategically important to the country’s growth.
Source: New Development Bank, August 27, 2026.
