Sofian Khan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement with Bangladesh to help upgrade its Dhaka-Northwest international trade corridor. Bangladesh will initially be given a loan of $300 millions by them. Country Director, ADB on behalf of Bangladesh, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam and Manmohan Parkash signed the loan agreements on Wednesday. Parkash expects this loan will help strengthen regional connectivity and boost trade in the second busiest road artery in Bangladesh.ADB is working with Bangladesh to improve transportation facilities of these regions since 1994, when the Jamuna Bridge Project was approved. They are now looking forward to make the highway safer and more gender friendly especially to women. Hence, they will continue to construct footbridges, footpaths, and dedicated lanes for vehicles which move slower.As traffic’s been growing at an 8% rate, from 2001, South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation(SASEC) has invested more than $9.17 billion in regional dimension projects. ADB technical assistance (TA) has accompanied along with SASEC with a grant of $2 million. The initial purpose was to support enhanced planning and monitoring system of roads by December 2023.