In spite of the setbacks experienced this year, it is heartening to see that Jica has enough faith in Bangladesh to invest in the construction of a second metro rail project in Dhaka.
Japan has been a friend to Bangladesh in recent years, and one of our most trusted and reliable development partners. As such, we must make good on the opportunity presented to us by the Japan International Cooperative Agency.
The metro rail opportunity presented to us opens up new possibilities for the future. The proposed MRT line would connect Dhaka’s airport to Kamalapur, with further expansion plans in the works.
This could transform the face of our congested capital and significantly reduce the hardships the city’s inhabitants face every day.
Japanese investors have given Bangladesh a much-needed vote of confidence in our journey towards development, and while the goals outlined in the metro rail project are commendable and pressing, it is of utmost importance that we see to it that the funds are not spent unscrupulously.
Vision is an important first step, but implementation is key.
It is imperative that the government adheres to concrete and timely deadlines for the project, and avoids getting stalled endlessly as we have seen with international projects in the past.
Time is of the essence, but these projects must also be handled with delicate care. Let us not get mired in needless bureaucracy or intra-body fighting which may make foreign investors reluctant to look to Bangladesh in the future.
Jica’s plans for Bangladesh are bold and ambitious. For the sake of our economy, and for the sake of our relationship with Japan, we cannot squander this opportunity.