$300 million (SDR 219.2 million) fertilizer lifeline: World Bank backs Bangladesh's smallholder farmers for the planting season

Smallholder farmers in Bangladesh will get fertilizer when they need it most. On 5 October, Bangladesh signed a $300 million (SDR 219.2 million) financing agreement with the World Bank's concessional IDA arm under the Emergency Support for Food Security Project, aimed at keeping eligible fertilizers available through the critical planting seasons. The project runs from July 2026 to June 2027, implemented by the Finance Division with the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation. The credit carries a 1.5% interest rate with a five-year grace period, and the commitment fee is waived. Officials called the World Bank Bangladesh's largest multilateral development partner.