Fast Track Projects: A New Bangladesh

These projects are Padma bridge project, Deep seaport at Sonadia in Cox’s Bazar, Metro Rail project in Dhaka, 1000 MW Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant, 1320 MW Rampal Coal Power project and LNG gas terminal for importing liquid gas. These projects will reshape the country's economic outlook, improve communication and accelerate GDP growth.
Among these projects, the deep seaport at Sonadia is the most expensive as it will cost 55 thousand crore Taka. Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant will cost 24 thousand crore Taka which is the second most expensive project. The Padma Bridge project will cost 23,200 crore Taka, Metro Rail is estimated to cost 21,895 crore Taka, Rampal Power Plant will cost 1,680 crore Taka and the LNG Terminal is estimated to cost 416 crore Taka.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set the priority of the six mega projects and ordered the authorities to work accordingly. Prime Minister fixed the priority at the Project Monitoring Committee’s meeting in January, 2014.
The Metro Rail project in Dhaka has been initiated to reduce the traffic jam in Dhaka City. The estimated cost of this project is 21,985 crore Taka. The government of Japan has agreed to support the project with 16,594 crore Taka. A loan agreement has already been signed with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Though the project had faced a few holdbacks, Awami League-led government is determined to complete this task in due time. Mofazzal Hossain, Additional Secretary for the Ministry of Power is been appointed as the Director of this project.
Government has taken initiatives to implement the plan to generate power from versatile sources which led to nuclear based power generation. On October 2, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of the Rooppur nuclear power plant, which will be built by the Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom. The first phase is likely to be completed by 2017 and will produce 1,000 MW of electricity and the final phase is scheduled to be completed by 2021 with a combined power production of 2,000 MW. This project was first initiated in 1961. Around 260 acres of land was acquired to construct a 60 MW plant. But, due to lack of funds, this project was shut down in 1971. After 50 years, in 2011, Bangladesh signed an agreement with Russia regarding Ruppur power plant. Russia will provide 90 percent of the construction cost at 2.28 percent interest rate for 28 years.
The deep seaport in Sonadia, Cox’s Bazar is one of the priorities of the government. Considering deep seaports as the pipeline of economic prosperity, Awami League took steps to construct a deep seaport in 1996. But, during 4-party alliance’s regime, this plan didn’t move forward. In 2009, Awami League re-initiated the project for the second time. But due to some complexities with funding and official issues, project stopped again. However, government has already selected site for the project. Ministry of Planning has approved a project plan of 15,986 crore Taka to contact with the donors. An act for constructing deep sea port is being formulated.
To complete the port, government has to spend 55,000 crore Taka where to complete the first phase within 2016, it will cost 16,000 crore Taka. One, two and three harbor will be constructed in three stages consecutively. Every harbor will be three times larger than New Mooring terminal of Chittagong sea port. 4 container ships and 5 cargo ships will be able to anchor at the harbors at the same time. 40 kilometers of rail lines and roads will be constructed to communicate with the port. The island of Sonadia at Maheshkhali will be renovated as a suburb. A 100 MW power station will be established. Countries like China, Netherlands have expressed their interest in this valuable project.
South-western region is one of the vote banks in the country. Apart from political interests, government believes, if the whole south-western region including Mangla port is connected through roads, then new gates to prosperity will open. The construction of Padma Bridge will start from June, 2014 and Minister of Communications, Mr. Obaidul Quader stated that it will be completed within 3.5 years.
Apart from these Bangladesh government has also decided to establish LNG terminal for importing 500 million cfc liquid gas every day. It has been included as one of the first track project to ease the country’s energy crisis and accelerate economic growth. Bangladesh has extended its memorandum of understanding with Qatar over the import of LNG, which expired in March, until June 2015, as it is confident it will be able to import LNG then after completing the floating of LNG terminal project.
From the discussions stated above, we can see that Bangladesh under the Awami League government has already started working on these projects, After the implementation of these projects we will be able to see a new Bangladesh; A Digital Bangladesh.