B Mirror Report : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to extend around $250 million in budgetary support to Bangladesh under a policy-based lending programme, officials said.

An ADB mission recently gave a positive signal following an on-site review of the country’s financing needs and reform progress. The mission, conducted under the Strengthening Social Resilience Programme (Sub-Programme-2), was completed ahead of the Eid holidays.

Officials at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) said the Manila-based lender has assured the government of the support. “We are hopeful of securing the loan within the next couple of months,” a senior ERD official said.

The proposed funding is aimed at strengthening social resilience by protecting vulnerable groups from global economic shocks and climate-related risks. The sub-programme builds on earlier phases that expanded social safety-net coverage and digitised payment systems across rural and urban areas.

According to officials, the ADB delegation held discussions with relevant ministries and agencies and reviewed ongoing policy reforms before concluding the mission with a wrap-up meeting.

“We expect to sign the loan agreement within a few months, enabling the funds to be released into the government exchequer,” another ERD official said.

The planned $250 million support will be provided as a Policy-Based Loan (PBL), which will be disbursed upon the government meeting specific reform benchmarks.

The programme will focus on integrating climate-risk data to better identify households vulnerable to floods and cyclones. It will also strengthen the Government-to-Person (G2P) payment system to ensure direct cash transfers to disadvantaged groups, particularly women and the elderly, through mobile financial services.

Efforts to reduce leakages through digital verification, harmonise social protection programmes under a unified registry, and expand mobile healthcare services for homeless populations in major cities are also included under the initiative.

The ADB mission noted that the support comes at a crucial time as Bangladesh prepares for energy security challenges and its graduation from least-developed country status.

Officials at the Ministry of Finance said the funding would help ease fiscal pressure and support continued implementation of the National Social Security Strategy despite global inflationary pressures.

Bangladesh received a similar $250 million loan from the ADB in the previous fiscal year for its social safety-net programmes. The latest assistance forms part of a broader, multi-year engagement, with ADB’s active portfolio in the country currently exceeding $11 billion.