Japanese Govt to fund the construction of 21 bridges in western Bangladesh

The government will construct and renovate a total of twenty-one bridges, large and small, in the western part of the country with the help of the Japanese government.

An agreement in this regard has been signed between the project authority and the construction company. The project will cost around Tk650 crore, read a press release today.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader joined the signing ceremony held at the project office in the capital's Banani area through video conference.

Japanese ambassador to Dhaka, Ito Naoki, and the head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh Office, Yuho Hayakawa, also joined the video conference.

The minister also thanked Japan for its continued support in the development of road infrastructure in the country, and said Japan is a loyal friend of Bangladesh. Relations between the two countries have passed the test of time.

Earlier the government undertook another Western Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project for the construction of 61 small and medium bridges in 23 districts in the western part of the country with funding from Japan.

Of them, 25 bridges have already been completed and 35 bridges are nearly completed.

The initiative to build 21 new bridges will strengthen the road network in the western part of the country, save money on transporting passengers and goods, and reduce travel time.

Additional Secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Division Chandan Kumar Dey, Chief Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department Shahriar Hossain and project officials were present at the signing ceremony.