The programme will focus on improving both quality and access to education and also use grants and stipends to ensure more students – especially girls and children from low-income backgrounds – complete their secondary education.

Rajashree Paralkar, acting World Bank country director for Bangladesh, said: “Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in advancing access to education, and has achieved gender parity in secondary education.

“Continuing to invest in quality education is critical for Bangladesh to achieve its vision of becoming a middle-income country.”

Paralkar added that the programme would also support modernisation of the curriculum and ensure teachers were appropriately developed and managed.

The package includes a $10m grant, which is aimed at improving adolescent health and school retention. Topics on general health and hygiene will be incorporated into the curriculum.

The rest is provided through a zero-interest loan.

The World Bank has committed to nearly $28bn in grants and interest-free credit to Bangladesh since its independence in 1971.