Bangladesh to get 266 mln dollars from UN in next 5 years

DHAKA, Sep 7 (Reuters) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has agreed to provide 266 million dollars to Bangladesh over the next five years for poverty alleviation and management of the environment, a UNDP statement said today.

Bangladesh and the UNDP signed the agreement, known as the country programme action plan, to spend 266.05 million dollars in five priority areas. Other areas of focus will be gender equality and advancement of women, reduction of social and economic vulnerability, and democratic governance and human rights.

''It's purely a donation and Bangladesh does not need to refund the money,'' a UNDP spokesman said.

It was the highest amount ever committed to Bangladesh by the UNDP, which usually gives the country around 30 million dollars a year on average.

REUTERS SP MIR BST1815