FT ONLINE

The government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Exim Bank of China for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.

“Bangladesh government and the Exim Bank of China signed a MoU worth $2,667.94 million (around Tk21,036.70 crore) for the much-awaited Padma Bridge rail link project on April 27 in Beijing,” Railways Minister Md Mujibul Haque said.

He made the statement while addressing a press conference at his secretariat office in Dhaka on Sunday.

Additional Secretary of Economic Relations Division Md Jahidul Haque and Vice President of Exim Bank of China Chun Ping signed the Mou on behalf of their respective organizations, he said.

Secretary of Railways Ministry Md Mofazzal Hossain, Railways Director General Md Amzad Hossain, Additional Secretary (project director) Golam Fakhruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of Economic Relations Division Md Jahidul Haque and Supervision Consultant of the project Major General Sayeed Masud, among others, were present in the press conference.

Mujibul Haque said the present government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving much importance to the railway sector. It is now a pro-people sector, he added.

“Now, we have taken a project to introduce bullet train on the Dhaka-Chattogram route,” the minister said.

He said: “The Padma Bridge is no more a dream now but a reality.”