Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said Bangladesh expects budget support from the World Bank (WB) within this year.

"We're expecting budget support from the World Bank within this year and this will be finalized and then you will know," he said.

The adviser said this while talking to the newsmen after a WB delegation led by its Regional Director Mathew A Verghis met him at the Finance Division in Bangladesh Secretariat.

He said the WB team has been requested to immediately provide the budget support to carry out the necessary reforms here.

"Since World Bank is our largest multilateral development partner, we need special support in the forms of financial assistance and technical assistance from them," he added.

The finance adviser said, "They (WB) have agreed and also positive as well as open minded. They have also been assured and more detailed discussions will be held mainly on how to carry out the reforms,"