Bangladesh-Japan PPP Platform Unveils New Infrastructure Projects

The 8th meeting of the Bangladesh-Japan Joint Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Platform was held in Dhaka on Wednesday, where both countries agreed to accelerate the implementation of major infrastructure projects and add several new initiatives to enhance regional connectivity and encourage sustainable investment.

Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser A B M Abdus Sattar attended the meeting at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka as the chief guest, according to a press release issued on Thursday.

The meeting was also attended by PPP Authority Chief Executive Officer Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (Secretary rank) Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan.

The Japanese delegation was led by Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Uno Yoshimasa. It also 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 senior officials from both countries.

During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress of several ongoing PPP projects, including the Kamalapur Multimodal Transport Hub, the operation and maintenance of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal-3, the Outer Ring Road and the Local Bridge Development Project under the Roads and Highways Department.

Both sides agreed to speed up the implementation of the revised master plan for the Kamalapur Multimodal Transport Hub and complete the remaining contractual formalities for Terminal-3 as soon as possible through regular monitoring under the joint PPP platform.

The platform also added the Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge and the Barishal-Bhola Bridge as new priority projects to improve connectivity and stimulate economic development in the country's southern region.

In addition, Bangladesh and Japan expressed interest in advancing 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.

Speaking at the meeting, PPP Authority CEO Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said the Bangladesh-Japan PPP partnership has become a dependable platform for attracting high-quality foreign investment.

In his closing remarks, Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar reaffirmed the government's commitment to completing the priority projects under the joint PPP platform within the stipulated timeframe.