Bangladesh rickshaw-pullers get helping hand

DHAKA, May 31 (Reuters) Bangladesh rickshaw-pullers and others hurt by a ban on non-motorised transport on certain Dhaka roads will get 15 million dollars in aid from the World Bank, the bank said in a statement today.

About 40,500 adversely affected rickshaw owners, family members, pullers who would like to shift to a new career, and others in poor and vulnerable groups would be provided with microcredit and additional services, the statement said.

''With the help of the microfinance services offered to the rickshaw pullers affected by the non-motorised transport ban, it is expected that they and their families would be able to restore their livelihoods,'' said Shamsuddin Ahmed, the bank's senior financial sector specialist and project team leader.

Apart from direct microcredit loans, the borrowers will also be provided with training in technical skills to facilitate career change, the bank said.

The underlying aid comes in the form of a credit from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary arm, with a maturity of 40 years with a 10-year grace period. It carries an annual service charge of 0.75 per cent.

Reuters AGL DB1124