Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has assured Bangladesh of providing necessary technical support for preparing two regional road connectivity projects to be funded by the lender.
During their visit to Bangladesh from November 17 to November 22, an AIIB mission confirmed a grant amounting to around US$ 3.0 million for the two projects undertaken by Roads and Highways Department (RHD).
Officials said AIIB earlier assured the government of funding these projects under which a four-lane highway and a bridge will be built.
"We expect around US$ 500 million loan from AIIB for the implementation of Kewatkhali bridge construction and Sylhet-Tamabil four-lane projects," said an official.
He said the grant will be used to carry out feasibility study and detailed design work on Kewatkhali bridge, and review and recheck the feasibility study, design and alignment of the Sylhet-Tamabil four-lane project.
RHD has already got approval from the Planning Commission on preliminary development project proposal of the two projects. It, however, did not conduct the feasibility study and design work of the Kewatkhali bridge planned over the Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh city.
The feasibility study, design and alignment of the Sylhet-Tamabil four-lane project were done in 2015 with the support of Asian Development Bank (ADB). The recheck and review will find out the changes to be needed in the proposed project.
During its first visit to Bangladesh in June this year, a technical mission of AIIB hinted about funding the two RHD projects, considering its importance in regional connectivity and increase trade and business activities.
At that time, they assured the government of providing US$ 300 million for the Sylhet-Tamabil four-lane project and $ 180 million for the Kewatkhali bridge construction project.
Some 900-metre Kewatkhali bridge will connect Mymensingh city with three districts Kishoreganj, Netrakona and Sherpur and will help facilitate trade and business through three land ports including Gubrakura and Nokugaon. The area is connected with Assam of India.
The 58-kilometre Sylhet-Tamabil highway will establish direct links with Indian hilly border of Shillong. The highway is the part of Dhaka-Sylhet-Tamabil road. The 226-km Dhaka-Sylhet highway four-lane development work is now being carried out with the government's own fund.
This is also a part of Asian Highway-2 which will cross Bangladesh through Banglabandha, Joydebpur, Dhaka, Kanchpur, Sylhet and Tamabil.
