Let the government get its priority right

FE Team | Published: August 20, 2025 20:54:16

Bangladesh's latest predilection for epithets like 'multimodal' seems to have become contagious. From multimodal logistics to multimodal networks to multimodal supply chain, it is likely to cover a whole range of activities in the name of development. These are fancy words that actually sound much only to end in a whimper. Better it would be to call a spade a spade and identify the real problem the country is going to face in the post-reciprocal tariff regime triggered by Donald Trump. Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and agreements -- bilateral or multilateral -- will never remain the same. Even the most generous partners in development of Bangladesh discover themselves in a tight corner. Japan has ever since remained a steadfast development partner of this country. Now, in the new global trade regime, the bonhomie between the two countries is sure to undergo some changes. The question is, how far that would be allowed to affect the mutual cooperation and relations based on development in Bangladesh.
A report carried in this paper on Tuesday has referred to an upcoming four-day visit to Japan by a high-profile delegation led by finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. What is interesting is that the visit has been dubbed a diplomatic foray for exploring the possibility of attracting fresh Japanese investment. But then it hints at the glitches that have of late created a stalemate over the continuation of works in the on-going projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Delegates representing the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) are surely an unerring indication of this fact. Both the DMTCL and the CAAB have been facing problems in implementing the JICA-funded, constructed and yet to be finished Mass Rapid Transit projects and the Third Terminal development at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The Economic Relations Division, however, has tried to give an impression that the tour is an experience-sharing one on advanced railway development and multimodal transport and tourism integration. This sounds rather hollow and irrelevant, particularly when the more pressing problems of metro rail construction and operation and the pressing into service the much-hyped third terminal of the Shahjalal International Airport are facing challenges over either their finishing touches or resolution of contract packages.
If bid prices are higher than the development project proposal (DPP) values, those, if agreed under the unalterable JICA conditions, are sure to tell on the affordability of commuters and air passengers or air freight. So, these crucial issues should get the priorities instead of the luxury of sending a mission for experiencing advanced multimodal transport and tourism integration. The more pressing economic and infrastructural issues have to be addressed right at this critical juncture of modern trade relations. Bangladesh can ill-afford losing any opportunity to seize the initiative in integration of its infrastructure, communication, supply and distribution channels in order to advance its international commercial interests that are sure to come its way. This is no time for luxury travel. The functionaries of the interim government must have their priorities right, at least at this highly testing time.