Chief Representative's Speech

Honorable Minister, Mr. Obaidul Quader, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges,
H.E. Mr. Naoki Ito, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan
Mr. Quazi Shahriar Hossain, Chief Engineer, Roads and Highways Department,
Mr. Abdus Sabur, Project Director,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalam-u-Alaikum, Namasker and Good Morning

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to witness the contract signing of the Package No. PW-06 N and PW-06S of the Western Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project financed with Japan's ODA Loan.

I would like to congratulate the Joint venture of China Railway 24 Bureau & Spectra Engineers Limited Bangladesh for being awarded the Package PW 06 S and Concord Pragatee Consortium Limited, Bangladesh for being awarded the Package PW 06 N.

I would like to covey my gratitude also to RHD, our long and important friend, for successful procurement of these important packages under the strong initiative of the honorable minister, in spite of the difficult environment with the spread of Covid-19.

Distinguished Guests,

Our partnership in developing the national road transportation network of Bangladesh especially with the Roads and Highways Department has grown over the years. Some major projects we partnered with RHD are Paksey Bridge, Rupsha Bridge, Kanchpur, Meghna and Gumti Bridges, Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project, Cross Border Road Improvement Project. These roads and bridges exert enormous impacts on the overall economic development and reducing poverty for the people of Bangladesh.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A bridge connects separated lands, and in doing so, it connects people. Under this Project, 82 numbers dilapidated bridges have been included for replacement with new bridges. These 82 bridges, most of their length are 20 to 200m, were carefully selected from approximately 1000 bridges located in the western part of the country. Some of these old bridges, are seriously damaged and became dangerous for vehicles to pass through. Some are impassable during the rainy season. When constructed, the new bridges will facilitate connectivity with major cities, Ports, EPZ, SEZ by reducing travel time, vehicle operation costs and accident costs. Under this Project, JICA is financing some major bridges on Dhaka-Rangpur National Highway and Dhaka- Benapole National Highway - these are a part of the Asian Highways. Therefore, once completed, these bridges will contribute to cross-border regional transport networks, with Nepal, Bhutan and India.

I am happy to learn that 34 bridges out of 82, under this project, have already been opened to traffic. Another 27 bridges are now under construction, which will be completed next year. The remaining two construction contracts, just signed today, will replace 21 damaged bridges in the western part of Bangladesh. They include replacement of two old bridges built back in 1968. The successful completion of these bridges significantly improve the mobility of your country and enhance the traffic safety.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The increasing impact of COVID 19 is adversely affecting the implementation of ongoing projects. Health and safety of the Project personnel should be given priority. I believe RHD will take proper measures to avoid the spread of corona virus at project site of this Project.

Ladies and Gentleman,

JICA has also been providing technical cooperation to enhance the capacity of the RHD for bridge operation and maintenance. In order to ensure the sustainability of RHD's bridge assets, emphasis should be laid on bridge maintenance based on systematic bridge management system. Also, new technical assistance for controlling over-loaded vehicles will commence in this year with RHD. It will cause the savings of maintenance cost and the reduce number of traffic accident.

Distinguished Guests,

Thanks to concerted efforts of the people involved, the Project has so far progressed on schedule. I hope that all the parties concerned will continue cooperation to keep the pace ensuring high standard of construction.

I promise here JICA will continue its support to our colleagues of Bangladesh to see our dream come true in the near future.

Once again, congratulation, and Shobaike Onek Donnobad. Thank you very much.