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Bangladesh and Japan have added the Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge and the Barishal-Bhola Bridge to their list of priority public-private partnership (PPP) projects, aiming to improve connectivity and accelerate economic growth in the country’s southern region.
The decision was taken at the 8th Bangladesh-Japan Joint Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Platform meeting held in Dhaka on Wednesday, where both sides agreed to fast-track key infrastructure projects and include several new initiatives to strengthen regional connectivity and promote sustainable investment.
The meeting also decided to accelerate implementation of the revised master plan for the Kamalapur Multimodal Transport Hub and complete the remaining contractual process for the operation and maintenance of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal-3 through regular monitoring under the joint PPP platform.
Both countries expressed interest in the Chattogram City Corporation’s Waste-to-Energy Project and the Bhola-Lakshmipur Bridge Project. They also agreed to examine a proposal for rehabilitating old railway bridges with Japanese technical assistance.
Held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, the meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser A B M Abdus Sattar as the chief guest, according to a press release.
PPP Authority Chief Executive Officer Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (Secretary rank) Dr. Md. Shakirul Islam Khan were also present.
The Japanese delegation was led by Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Uno Yoshimasa and included Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, Assistant Vice Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Fujita Masakuni, Assistant Vice Minister for International Aviation Nakayama Reiko, and other senior officials.
The meeting reviewed progress on several ongoing PPP projects, including the Kamalapur Multimodal Transport Hub, Terminal-3 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the Outer Ring Road and the Local Bridge Development Project under the Roads and Highways Department.
Speaking at the meeting, PPP Authority CEO Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said the Bangladesh-Japan PPP partnership has developed into a trusted platform for attracting quality foreign investment.
In his closing remarks, Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing all priority projects under the joint PPP platform within the stipulated timeframe.
