Seizing the tariff opportunity: Why infrastructure matters now
Bangladesh has won a rare trade advantage on the global stage, but without proper infrastructure, the opportunity could slip away. Infrastructure is now the make-or-break factor in turning diplomatic gains into real prosperity
Bangladesh today stands at a decisive crossroad. Our people are resilient, our economy has shown promise, and our geographic position gives us natural advantages.
Yet our physical infrastructure is holding us back.
Unless we confront these weaknesses boldly, our aspirations of becoming a prosperous nation will remain dreams deferred.
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A new window of opportunity
Recent negotiations with the United States brought a breakthrough: Bangladeshi exports will now face tariffs of 20%, while India faces 50%. This gives Bangladesh an opening to expand its exports — not only in garments but also in diversified products.
But trade opportunities cannot be seized with weak ports, unreliable electricity, and congested roads. Lower tariffs mean little if our goods remain stuck in Chittagong for days, or factories are halted by power cuts. To turn this diplomatic gain into real economic progress, Bangladesh must urgently invest in infrastructure.
Ports and logistics: Unlocking trade potential
Trade is Bangladesh's lifeblood. 90% of our commerce flows through Chattogram and Mongla ports, both struggling under congestion and outdated facilities.
The Bay Terminal and the forthcoming Matarbari Deep-Sea Port are promising steps, but speed and efficiency in their completion is critical.
Every day of delay is a missed chance to capture new export orders and jobs for our people.
Power and energy: Keeping the lights on
Electricity is the oxygen of development. Our industries, schools, and homes depend on it. Yet we face chronic shortages and overdependence on imported fuels. By 2030, demand may cross 34,000 megawatts, but capacity growth is already lagging.
The answer lies in a balanced mix: natural gas for stability, solar and wind for sustainability, and better transmission to cut wastage.
Mandating rooftop solar on public buildings is a good beginning, but far more ambitious clean-energy adoption is needed if our factories are to compete globally.
Water and sanitation: A public health crisis
In Dhaka, 70% of sewage still flows untreated into rivers. Millions drink water drawn from falling groundwater tables or contaminated with arsenic.
Rural communities face similar hardship. Without modern sewage systems, water treatment plants, and rural sanitation networks, we cannot claim true progress.
Clean water and sanitation are not luxuries — they are basic rights.
Urban planning and flood resilience
Our cities are growing chaotically. Unplanned construction, clogged drainage, and poor zoning fuel water-logging and traffic paralysis.
Climate change will only make floods and cyclones worse.
We need a national physical planning framework that is respected across political cycles, ensuring cities expand with order, not chaos.
Rural infrastructure: Leaving no one behind
A country is only as strong as its villages. Roads, bridges, flood shelters, and irrigation canals are the backbone of rural resilience.
If every Bangladeshi village had all-weather roads, safe water, electricity, and internet, the whole nation would surge forward.
The way forward
Bangladesh must invest at least $25 billion annually through 2030 to close our infrastructure gaps. This will require innovative financing, public-private partnerships, and above all, integrity in implementation.
The recent US tariff decision has handed Bangladesh a rare chance — but opportunities vanish if we cannot deliver products on time, at scale, and at quality. Infrastructure is not just about concrete and steel; it is about jobs for our youth, dignity for our workers, and prosperity for our families.
Our history shows that Bangladesh never surrenders to hardship. Today, we must summon that same spirit to build the roads, ports, power plants, water systems, and cities worthy of our people's aspirations. The world has opened a door for us. The question is: Will we step through it?
Muhammed Aziz Khan is the Chairman of Summit Group
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
