Dhaka: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Qingfeng Zhang as its new Country Director for Bangladesh. He commenced his new role in Dhaka today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Zhang will oversee ADB's operations in Bangladesh, which is one of its largest country programs. He aims to further strengthen the bank's long-standing partnership with the Government of Bangladesh, lead strategic policy dialogue with stakeholders, and guide the preparation of ADB's next country partnership strategy. Zhang expressed his dedication to his new role, stating, "It is a privilege to serve as ADB Country Director for Bangladesh at an important stage in the country's development."
Bangladesh has shown significant resilience and economic progress over the past decades, and ADB is committed to collaborating closely with the government and development partners. The focus will be on creating quality jobs, strengthening resilience, accelerating private sector-led growth, and deepening regional cooperation through innovative financing, knowledge solutions, and high-quality investments.
Zhang brings with him over 30 years of professional experience in sustainable development, including more than 20 years with ADB. His career has been marked by leading transformative programs and strategic initiatives in areas such as agriculture, food systems, water resources, and rural development. He has successfully built strong partnerships with governments, development institutions, academia, and the private sector.
Before this appointment, Zhang served as Senior Director of ADB's Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office. In this role, he guided the bank's strategic and operational engagement in advancing sustainable and resilient development across the region. Zhang, a Chinese national, holds a doctorate in environmental engineering from Tsinghua University and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
Bangladesh joined ADB in 1973, and as of July 2026, ADB's active public and private sector portfolio in the country amounts to approximately $12.5 billion. ADB has committed around $43 billion in cumulative loans and grants to support Bangladesh's development. Looking ahead, ADB expects to commit around $2.4 billion in annual lending over the next several years to help Bangladesh advance sustainable growth, bolster resilience to natural hazards, enhance regional connectivity, and improve lives.
ADB, founded in 1966 and owned by 69 members, is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. It works with its members and partners to solve complex challenges through innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships.