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7 Mega Projects in Bangladesh That Will Transform the

Country Rapidly
Israt Sultana March 23, 2022

REPORT

In the last decade, several infrastructure projects have been initiated in Bangladesh.
Considering the size, budget, and economic impact, many of these projects have been
termed mega-projects. The government has also identified a few of them as fast-track
projects. Among these, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Bangladesh’s first metro rail project
MRT Line-6, ​and the Karnafuli Tunnel, the first and longest underwater road tunnel in South
Asia, are expected to be completed by the end of this year. In addition, to strengthen the
country’s economy, the government has started giving importance to new projects and
ongoing projects. Today’s video will tell you about seven such ongoing mega projects.

1. Padma Bridge Rail Link

Padma Bridge Rail Link

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge is one of the first of the eight fast-track projects of the
Government of Bangladesh. The two-story bridge will be completed by June 2022 and will
be accessible for traffic to the mass. In addition to roadways, the bridge will have telephone,
internet, gas lines, in addition to rail connections. Since there was no rail network in the
southern part of the country, Bangladesh Railway had to set up an entirely new railway
network, and this project is called Padma Bridge Rail Link Project. According to the project’s
website, a further 172 km railway line will be constructed from Kamalapur in Dhaka to
Gandaria and Keraniganj across the Padma Bridge to Jessore. In addition to the
construction of 66 major bridges for this new railway, 244 small and medium bridges,
culverts, underpasses will also be constructed. In addition, including six-station platforms,
an approach road, and an administrative station, 14 newer stations will also be built under
this project. The current budget of this mega project is BDT 39,247 crore. The project is
being implemented in the G2G model with China, where China Railway Group Limited
(CREC) is working on constructing the project. In addition, through the China Exim Bank, the
Chinese government is funding 85 percent of the Padma Bridge rail link project, and the
Bangladesh government is financing the remaining 15 percent. Although the Faridpur
section of the project, which started in January 2016, is scheduled to be inaugurated by
2020, the entire project will take time to complete by 2024.

Total length: 169 km

Construction start: July 2018
Cost: Tk 39,246 crore
End Date: 2024 estimated

2. Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

With the highest budget allocation, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is the largest megaproject
in Bangladesh. Upon completing this project, Bangladesh will also join the elite group of 33
nuclear power generating countries globally. The Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission
under the Ministry of Science and Technology is implementing the project with technical
help from the State Nuclear Energy Corporation of the Russian Federation, Rosatom. The
initiative to build a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh was taken in 1961. For this purpose,
about 260 acres of land was acquired for the project area and 32 acres for the residential
area at Rooppur in the Pabna district. However, the project never saw the light. Work on the
project resumed in 2009, and in 2011 a cooperation agreement was signed with the Russian
Federation on constructing a two-unit nuclear power plant. In 2015, Bangladesh and Russia
signed a deal to build two units of 1200 MW each. Although the first unit is expected to be
completed in 2024 and the second in 2025, the first unit could be completed by 2023.
Russia is financing 80 percent of the project worth BDT 1.13 lakh crore, and the remaining
BDT 22,052 crore is funded by the Bangladesh government.

Start- November 2017 Rooppur 1

Open Date: Rooppur 1- 2024. Rooppur 2- 2025
Cost- 1,13,000 Crore BDT
Capacity – 2400 MW

3. Dhaka Elevated Expressway

Dhaka Elevated Expressway

To reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka, the Bangladesh government has already built several
flyovers and is working on constructing Metro rail. Another project to alleviate traffic
congestion in Dhaka is the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, a 19.63-kilometer four-lane
expressway from Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway to Kawla in the Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport area of ​Dhaka. Starting from the airport via Kuril, Banani,
Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Magbazar, Kamalapur and Sayedabad to Kutubkhali and join the Dhaka-
Chittagong Highway. The 20 km long elevated expressway will have 31 ramps for getting up
and down, with a total length of 27 km. The Bangladesh Bridge Authority under the Ministry
of Roads and Transport is liable for the project. The total construction cost of this elevated
expressway under the P.P.P project has been estimated at BDT 8,940 crore. The Government
of Bangladesh will invest BDT 2413 crore, and the rest is coming from the manufacturer.
Authorities are hopeful that the project, which started in 2020, will be completed by 2023.
The project’s participants anticipate opening Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport section
to Tejgaon railgate by December 2022.

Start- January 1, 2020

End date- June 2023
Cost: 8,940 Crore
Length- 19.73 km

4. Chittagong Cox’s Bazar Rail Link

Chittagong Cox’s Bazar Rail Link

The Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Rail Link is one of Bangladesh’s ongoing fast-track projects. In
addition to being connected by road and air, the project will also provide rail connectivity to
this tourist city. As a result, it will increase the scope of Cox’s Bazar tourism as well as trade
and communication. The 126 km single line dual gauge track project will start from
Dohazari in Chittagong, pass through Chandnaish, Satkania, and Lohagarh Upazilas,
Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, and Gundun Upazila in Bandarban district
via Ukhia Upazila. Work on the 100 km railway track in the project’s first phase is in full
swing, and more than 50 percent of the work has been completed so far. Although this
section was supposed to be completed by December 2022, due to delays for the Corona
epidemic and other associated project works, the new target for completion is 2024. The
project worth more than BDT 18,034 crore is being funded by the Asian Development Bank
and the Government of Bangladesh.
5. Matarbari Coal Power Plant

Matarbari Coal Power Plant

One of the ten mega projects in Bangladesh is the Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired
Power Project in Maheshkhali Upazila of Chittagong, mainly known as Matarbari Thermal
Power Plant. The combined generation capacity of the two units of 600 MW will be 1200
MW, which will meet the power demand of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar region. This power
plant will play an essential role in meeting the demand of Economic Zones and E.P.Z.s of
the Government of Bangladesh in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar areas. Coal Power Generation
Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) is executing a project worth BDT 51,855 crore.
Japan International Co-operation Agency or JICA is investing around BDT 43,921 crore in
financing the project, and the rest of the project will be funded by the government. After
construction starts in 2020, the project is hoped to be complete and produce the first unit in
January 2024. Production of the second unit is expected to begin in July 2024.

6. Matarbari Deep Sea Port

 Matarbari Deep Sea Port

One of the ongoing mega projects in Bangladesh is Matarbari Deep Sea Port or Matarbari
Deep Seaport. Initially, construction work was started at Matarbari Power Station to import
coal, but now work is being done for the commercial ports. The 18-meter-deep port under
construction at Matarbari in Maheshkhali Upazila of Chittagong will play an essential role in
reducing the cost of importing and exporting goods. The first phase of the Matarbarit deep
seaport project in Maheshkhali, which is under construction at the expense of about Tk
18,000 crore, started in 2020. Where JICA is investing BDT 12,899.76 crore Besides, BDT
2,213.25 crore will be provided by the port authorities, and BDT 2,671.15 crore will be
provided from the funds of the Government of Bangladesh. Although the project’s
construction is expected to be completed by December 2026, the Chittagong Port Authority
has set a target of completing this deep-sea port by 2025.

Construction start: November 2020

Cost: 17,775 crore
Container Capacity: 2.8 Million TEUs
Start date: 2020
End date: 2026 (Estimated)

7. Dhaka Airport Third Terminal

 Dhaka Airport Third Term

A 3rd terminal is currently under construction at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

The terminal, which has a capacity of 37 aircraft, is being constructed at the cost of BDT
21,398 crore. In addition, a 230,000-square-meter building is being built at the terminal,
which will carry a total of 12 million passengers. In addition, the metro rail will also be
connected to the terminal with a separate station. This will enable passengers arriving in to
reach their destination directly via Metrorail without leaving the airport. Currently, the project
is being jointly implemented by Japanese manufacturer Shimiju and Korean company
Samsung, with JICA investing BDT 16,141 crore. Besides, the remaining BDT 5,258 crore is
financed from Bangladesh government funds. Authorities plan to open the terminal to the
public in 2023.