Dhaka signs deal with Tokyo to construct, renovate 21 bridges

The authorities of Bangladesh and Japan today inked an agreement over the construction and renovation of 21 small and large bridges in the western region of Bangladesh with the Japanese government's aid.

Project Director Engineer Abdus Sabur and Mritunnjoy Ghoshal of Japanese Construction Company signed the treaty on behalf of their respective sides at the project office in Banani.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Ito Naoki and Hayakawa Yuho of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA Bangladesh Office) joined the signing ceremony through video conference.

Earlier, the Western Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project was initiated to construct 61 small and medium range bridges in 23 districts with the Japanese government funds.

Under the project, construction work of 25 bridges has already been completed and work on 35 more bridges is set to end, said a press release of the road transport and bridges ministry.

These bridges will strengthen road networks in the western region by reducing time and cost of travelling and transporting goods, it said.

Mentioning the continuous cooperation of Japan in Bangladesh's road infrastructural development, Obaidul Quader, also Awami League general secretary, said as trusted friends Bangladesh and Japan maintain very good bilateral relations.

Under the Japanese financial support, Metrorail Route-6 is being implemented to ease the traffic gridlock in the capital Dhaka, the minister said.

Besides, he said, construction of 2nd Kanchpur, 2nd Meghna and 2nd Gumti bridges on the country's Dhaka-Chattogram highway have been completed with financial aid from Japan.

Quader said Japanese finance in upgrading the highway from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar has already been approved in principle.

The minister said construction of two field hospitals has been completed for treatment of metro-rail project manpower infected with coronavirus to carry on project work in this situation.