DHAKA, July 30, 2026 — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Qingfeng Zhang as its new Country Director for Bangladesh, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s sustainable economic development and long-term growth agenda.
Zhang officially assumed his responsibilities in Dhaka on Thursday, according to an ADB press release.
As Country Director, Zhang will oversee ADB’s operations in Bangladesh—one of the bank’s largest country programs. He will lead strategic policy dialogue with the government and development partners, strengthen ADB’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh, and guide the preparation of the bank’s next Country Partnership Strategy.
“It is a privilege to serve as ADB Country Director for Bangladesh at an important stage in the country’s development,” Zhang said.
He praised Bangladesh’s remarkable economic progress and resilience over the past decades, reaffirming ADB’s commitment to supporting the country’s development priorities.
“ADB will continue working closely with the government and development partners to create quality jobs, strengthen climate and economic resilience, accelerate private sector-led growth, and deepen regional cooperation through innovative financing, knowledge solutions, and high-quality investments,” he said.
Zhang brings more than three decades of professional experience in sustainable development, including over 20 years with ADB. Throughout his career, he has led major programmes in agriculture, food systems, water resources, environmental management, natural capital conservation and rural development, while building strong partnerships with governments, development institutions, academia and the private sector.
Before taking up his new assignment, Zhang served as Senior Director of ADB’s Agriculture, Food, Nature and Rural Development Sector Office, where he led the bank’s strategic and operational efforts to promote sustainable and climate-resilient development across Asia and the Pacific.
A Chinese national, Zhang holds a doctorate in Environmental Engineering from Tsinghua University, a master’s degree in Water Resources Management, and a bachelor’s degree in Hydrology from Sichuan University. He also completed executive education at Harvard Business School.
Bangladesh became a member of ADB in 1973 and has since grown into one of the institution’s largest development partners. As of July 2026, ADB’s active sovereign and private sector portfolio in Bangladesh stands at approximately US$12.5 billion, while the bank has provided around US$43 billion in cumulative loans and grants to support the country’s development.
ADB plans to commit approximately US$2.4 billion in annual financing over the coming years to help Bangladesh sustain economic growth, strengthen resilience against climate and natural hazards, improve regional connectivity, expand infrastructure and enhance living standards.
Founded in 1966, ADB is a leading multilateral development bank owned by 69 member countries, including 50 from the Asia-Pacific region. The institution supports sustainable, inclusive and resilient development through financing, technical expertise and strategic partnerships across the region.
