Dhaka: The World Bank's new Vice President for the South Asia Region, Johannes Zutt, arrives in Dhaka today. During his four-day visit, Zutt is scheduled to meet with the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, the Finance Adviser, Bangladesh Bank Governor, and other senior government officials and private sector representatives, as stated in a press release by the World Bank. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zutt assumed his role as World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region on July 1, 2025, and this visit marks his first official engagement in the new role. Zutt previously served as the World Bank's Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal from 2013 to 2015. A Dutch national, he joined the World Bank in 1999 and has held positions of increasing responsibility. Zutt has also served as Country Director for several countries, including Trkiye, Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Somalia. Before his recent post as Country Director in Brazil, he was the Director for St rategy, Results, Risk, and Learning in the Operational Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Vice Presidency. The World Bank was one of the first development partners to support Bangladesh after its independence. Since then, the Bank has committed approximately $46 billion to Bangladesh, primarily in grants or concessional credits. Bangladesh currently hosts one of the largest ongoing programs supported by the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA).
