Epitome of visionary dreams 

In the last decade, several infrastructure projects, including some mega ones in terms of the size, budget, and economic impact, have been inaugurated, while some are in the pipeline in Bangladesh, making many to admit that the brave move of the government turned into a giant leap towards personification of visionary dreams. Inaugurated projects included some fast-track ones, such as Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Bangladesh’s first metro rail project MRT Line-6, and Matarbari Coal Power Plant. 

In addition, to strengthen the country’s economy, the government has started giving importance to new projects and ongoing projects. This report focuses on some of these mega projects.

Padma Multipurpose Bridge 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 25 June inaugurated the Padma Multipurpose Bridge in a historic moment for the nation. The project has been implemented at a cost of Tk30,193.39 crore with almost 100% domestic funding which is believed to bring a new world to the country's economy by connecting 21 southwestern districts through roads and railways with the capital.

Starting in 1999 with a pre-feasibility study, construction of the bridge, which has since generated numerous headlines, has had its share of delays and even courted controversy.
The construction of the main bridge was carried out by China Major Bridge Engineering Company (MBEC), a Chinese contractor Company, and the river treatment was done by Sino Hydro Corporation of China.

Padma Bridge Rail Link

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge is one of the first of the eight fast-track projects of the government. 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 through Gandaria and Keraniganj across the Padma Bridge to Jashore. In addition to the construction of 66 major bridges for this new railway, 244 small and medium bridges, culverts, underpasses will also be constructed. There will also be 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 Tk 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. The entire project will take time to complete by 2024.

Metro Rail Project 

Bangladesh's first-ever metro began commercial operations on 28 December 2022, setting a milestone in the country's transportation history, with Premier Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT Line)-6 of the metro rail from Dhaka's Uttara to Agargaon area.
A joint venture between China's Sinohydro Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of Chinese state-owned PowerChina, and Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, a Thai company, had been building the main depot for the MRT Line-6 in Dhaka since 2017 at a cost of about US $180 million.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be the largest megaproject in Bangladesh with the highest budget allocation. Upon completing this project, Bangladesh will also join the elite group of 33 nuclear power generating countries globally. Work on the project began 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 Tk 1.13 lakh crore, and the remaining Tk 22,052 crore is funded by the Bangladesh government.

Dhaka Elevated Expressway

To reduce traffic congestion in Dhaka, the Bangladesh government has already built several flyovers and still constructing Metro rail. Another project to ease 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 near the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Starting from the airport via Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, 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 is liable for the project. The total construction cost of this elevated expressway under the PPP project has been estimated at Tk 8,940 crore. The government will invest Tk 2,413 crore, and the rest is coming from the manufacturer. Authorities are hopeful that the project, which started in 2020, will be completed by 2023. 

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 Upazila, Chakaria in Cox’s Bazar, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, and Gundum 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 Tk 18,034 crore is being funded by the Asian Development Bank and the government.

Matarbari Coal Power Plant

One of the 10 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 EPZs of the government of Bangladesh in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar areas. Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) is executing a project worth Tk 51,855 crore. Japan International Co-operation Agency or JICA is investing around Tk 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 completed and start production of the first unit in January 2024. Production of the second unit is expected to begin in July 2024.

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 Tk 12,899.76 crore. Besides, Tk 2,213.25 crore will be provided by the port authorities, and Tk 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.

Dhaka Airport Third Terminal

A 3rd terminal is currently under construction at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The terminal, which has a capacity of accommodating 37 aircraft, is being constructed at the cost of Tk 21,398 crore. In addition, a 2,30,000-square-meter building is being built at the terminal, which will carry a total of 12 million passengers annually. In addition, the metro rail will also be connected to the terminal with a separate station. This will enable passengers 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 Tk 16,141 crore. Besides, the remaining Tk 5,258 crore is financed from Bangladesh government funds. Authorities plan to open the terminal to the public this year.

Rampal Power Plant

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on September 6, 2022 jointly inaugurated the unit-I of the 1320-megawatt of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, located in Rampal of Bagerhat.