Bangladesh gets $360m WB credit to improve waterway connectivity

The agreement was signed by Senior Secretary at Economic Relations Division Mohammad Mejbahuddin and World Bank Country Representative for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal Qimiao Fan on behalf of their respective organisations in Dhaka yesterday. Bangladesh Regional Waterway Transport Project-1 will help reduce travel time and cost for cargo and passenger transport and boost national and regional trade. The project will build one new general cargo terminal at Pangaon and improve the existing cargo terminal at Ashuganj. It will also build new and rehabilitate existing passenger terminals at Sadarghat, Narayanganj, Chandpur and Barisal. To help the poor population living in remote areas, the project will construct 14 landing Ghats/stations in Chars (shoals), where waterways are often the only mode of transportation. The terminals and landing stations will be built to improve the security, safety and sanitation and incorporate the needs of female users, the elderly, and small traders. “The inland water transportation sector can play an important role in improving domestic connectivity and regional integration. The project will benefit traders, exporters and commuters by cutting down transport time and cost, and enhancing safety, even during night-time travels, which will lead to increased trade and investments,” said Qimiao Fan. “Thus, the project will help Bangladesh increase exports and intra-regional trade.”