The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to provide about US$6 billion for projects in Bangladesh, including regional connectivity road transport and railway networks. ADB – through its country partnership program 2016-2018 – is committed to supporting regional connectivity in South Asia that boosts trade and commerce. Priority will also be given to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and skills enhancement, including delivery and quality of secondary education.

The ADB-assisted South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program strongly promotes the regional transport connectivity agenda of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka by helping them implement priority projects under the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation Framework, as well as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation framework. 

ADB will support implementation of five SASEC connectivity projects during 2016-2018. In 2016, it will provide support for implementation of Dohazari to Cox’s Bazar’s new 100-kilometer (km) railway link Phase-I and II, and the Railway Sector Investment Program. In 2017, ADB will finance the SASEC Road Connectivity Project II (Hatirkamrul-Rangpur-Burimari four-lane), and in 2018, it will provide a loan for the Dhaka-Chittagong dual gauging (230 km) access to Chittagong Port. 

ADB will also finance 12 projects in the energy sector during 2016-2018. 

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ADB plans to provide $6b for connectivity