Bangladesh and Japan signed the Exchange of Notes of the 45th Official Development Assistance (ODA) Yen Loan of Japan to Bangladesh, a spokesperson of the Japan Embassy said on Tuesday.
Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh IWAMA Kiminori and Secretary of Economic Relations Division Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky signed the deal on Monday. The first installment of the 45th Japanese Yen Loan Package is 39.902 billion yen (approximately USD 257 million).
Based on this agreement between the two counties, Mr. ICHIGUCHI Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh Office, and Mr. Shariar Siddiky signed a relevant Loan Agreement. The agreement includes two significant projects.
One is the Chattogram Sewerage System Development Project (Engineering Service), supported by a 1,696 million yen (USD 11.07 million) loan and aims to improve sanitation infrastructure in Chattogram by addressing key urban challenges and enhancing public health and the environment. The other is the Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction Project (III), with a 38,206 million yen loan (USD 249.34 million), and focuses on improving transportation connectivity across Bangladesh, fostering economic growth and regional integration.
This project marks the final phase of Japan's financial assistance for the Jamuna Railway Bridge, completing the transformative initiative, the spokesman said.
During the signing ceremony, Ambassador IWAMA Kiminori emphasised the importance of this signing ceremony as a demonstration of Japan's commitment to continuing existing projects and launching new initiatives to support Bangladesh's future economic development.
He noted that this Exchange of Notes reflects Japan's steadfast partnership with Bangladesh, especially in supporting the interim government's efforts to chart a pathway towards stable development during a period of political transition, and reaffirms Japan's unwavering dedication to collaborating closely with the new government to sustain the country's progress.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com