Japan firm offers to build $3.4b bridges connecting South under PPP

Japanese construction firm Miyagawa Kensetsu Construction Ltd has expressed interest in building the Bhola-Barishal Bridge and the Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Infograph: TBS

The two bridge projects are estimated to cost Tk33,423 crore ($3.44 billion). Once completed, they are expected to transform regional connectivity and significantly boost economic activity. The government aims to complete both bridges by 2033. Under PPP rules, however, the Bangladesh government will bear the cost of land acquisition.

According to sources at the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and the PPP Authority, the Japanese company conveyed its interest during the 8th Bangladesh-Japan Joint PPP Platform Meeting, held on Wednesday at a hotel in the capital.

During the meeting, the Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge and Barishal-Bhola Bridge were officially confirmed as new projects under the Bangladesh-Japan Joint PPP Platform, reflecting both governments' commitment to advancing the major infrastructure initiatives through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries. Bangladesh was represented by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, PPP Authority CEO Ashik Chowdhury, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Md Shakirul Islam Khan.

The Japanese delegation included Special Adviser to the Prime Minister UNO Yoshimasa, Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) Assistant Vice Minister FUJITA Masakuni, and Assistant Vice-Minister for International Aviation Nakayama Reiko. 

Earlier, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism selected Miyagawa Kensetsu Construction Ltd for the proposed Bhola-Barishal Bridge project.

Bridge Division sources said the government had also held discussions with South Korea regarding the Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge project.

Officials from the Bridge Division and PPP Authority said Miyagawa may implement the projects independently or jointly with other Japanese firms.

They added that before the company is formally selected, a transaction adviser will be appointed to conduct a feasibility study. Following that, the government will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) – a formal document inviting qualified firms to submit proposals for the project. After evaluating the RFP submissions, the government will move towards signing a final agreement with the Japanese firm.

Stallion Capital Ltd is serving as Miyagawa's local partner in Bangladesh, supporting the project's investment planning, development and implementation.

Stallion Capital Chairman Sayeed Ibrahim Ahmed said, "We have been working for many years to expand Japanese investment in Bangladesh's infrastructure sector. The Bhola-Barishal Bridge is not merely a transport project; it has the potential to create new opportunities for the economy, industry and employment across the southern region."

Bhola-Barishal Bridge

The larger of the two projects is the Bhola-Barishal Bridge, estimated to cost Tk17,466 crore.
The proposed 10.86-kilometre bridge will be the longest in Bangladesh, providing a permanent and reliable road link between the island district of Bhola and the mainland at Barishal.

A 2024 feasibility study projects that the bridge will attract investment, create jobs, and contribute 0.86% to GDP over 30 years. It will also facilitate the transmission of natural gas from Bhola to the national grid.

Officials expect the bridge to be completed by 2033.

Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge

The second project is the Shariatpur-Chandpur Bridge, an 8-kilometre structure over the Meghna River, with an estimated cost of Tk15,957 crore.

The bridge will directly connect 21 south-western districts with 11 south-eastern districts, providing a reliable alternative to the existing ferry service.

It is expected to reduce the distance between Khulna and Chattogram by around 90 kilometres, easing pressure on traffic through Dhaka.

The bridge is planned to be built between Horina Ferry Ghat in Chandpur and Sakhipur in Shariatpur, with a target completion date of 2032.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority appointed an international consulting firm for the project in 2021, and the survey report was completed last year.

Bhola-Lakshmipur bridge also draws Japanese interest

According to the PPP Authority, Bangladesh also formally presented the proposed Bhola-Lakshmipur Bridge project during the meeting.

The Japanese side showed strong interest, viewing it as an important project for improving regional connectivity, boosting trade and supporting economic growth in southern Bangladesh.

Sources at the Bangladesh Bridge Authority said a bridge on the Bhola-Lakshmipur route across the Meghna River would significantly transform transport in the country's southern region.

The Bhola-Lakshmipur ferry route is a vital inter-district connection for people from 21 districts, including 12 in Khulna and Barishal divisions and nine in Chattogram division.

PPP Authority CEO Ashik Chowdhury said the Bangladesh-Japan PPP Platform has become a trusted mechanism for delivering major infrastructure projects and attracting high-quality investment, reaffirming the authority's commitment to speeding up implementation through stronger coordination among stakeholders.
The meeting concluded with remarks by Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, who reaffirmed the Bangladesh government's full support for the platform and its priority projects. Both countries pledged to deepen cooperation, fast-track key infrastructure initiatives and promote sustainable development to improve connectivity, create jobs, enhance regional competitiveness and support Bangladesh's long-term economic growth.

Other proposals

Officials said the Japanese delegation also proposed including a Waste-to-Energy project in Chattogram City under the joint PPP platform to improve waste management and promote environmentally sustainable urban development.

The meeting also discussed a proposal to upgrade Bangladesh's ageing railway bridges with Japanese technical assistance, creating further opportunities for future PPP cooperation.

According to the meeting's press release, the Bangladesh-Japan Joint PPP Platform also reviewed progress on several ongoing flagship infrastructure projects, including Kamalapur Multimodal Transport Hub, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal 3 Operation and Maintenance, Outer Ring Road Project, and Local Bridge Improvement Project under the Roads and Highways Department.