Desk Report:
The ‘Dhaka Elevated Expressway’ project is being implemented on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis to develop a modern, fast and efficient transport system to alleviate severe traffic congestion in the capital Dhaka. This mega project in the communication sector is playing an important role in increasing the country’s economic dynamism by establishing uninterrupted road connectivity in the north-south corridor of Dhaka and increasing the carrying capacity of the road.
Arbitration is ongoing in Singapore due to legal complications related to the transfer of shares among the shareholders of the project’s investor, First Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) Co. As a result, the installment payment of loans from two Chinese banks financing the project has been stopped for more than two years. Despite this financial crisis, the investor company has taken forward the project work with its own financing.
In this situation, a high-level delegation of two leading banks and investment institutions from Shandong Province, China, as alternative lenders to keep the financial flow of the project normal, met with the Secretary of the Bridges Department and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bridges Authority, Mr. Mohammad Abdur Rouf, in his office on Wednesday (July 29, 2026).
At the beginning of the meeting, the Secretary of the Bridges Department and the Executive Director of Bangladesh Bridges Authority warmly welcomed the Chinese delegation and thanked them for their interest in financing the Dhaka Elevated Expressway project. He mentioned that the people of Dhaka have already started getting partial benefits from this project and the current government is determined to complete the construction of the remaining part as soon as possible. Stating that the expressway has been operating more vehicles than expected since its partial opening, he expressed optimism that it would be possible to easily withdraw the invested money once the entire expressway is opened.
Bridge Secretary Mr. Mohammad Abdur Rouf further said that the Honorable Prime Minister is constantly using this Dhaka Elevated Expressway and has directed to introduce a uniform ‘Electronic Toll Collection’ (ETC) system in the entire Bangladesh including the said expressway. As per the instructions of the Honorable Prime Minister, the Bridge Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority are working tirelessly to introduce ETC as soon as possible.
Also present at the meeting were Additional Secretary to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Director (Administration) of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Mr. Altaf Hossain Sheikh, Chief Engineer of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Mr. A. H. M. S. Akhtar and members of the Chinese delegation.
In addition, the 8th meeting of the Bangladesh-Japan Joint PPP Platform was held yesterday (July 29, 2026) at the Hotel Intercontinental in the capital to accelerate high-quality infrastructure development and sustainable investment through Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPP). The meeting was chaired by ABM Abdus Sattar, Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The meeting was led by Uno Yoshimasa, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan on behalf of the Government of Japan. The Assistant Vice President of MILRT, Government of Japan and representatives of various Japanese investment institutions were also present in the meeting. The meeting was moderated by Mr. Ashiq Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPP).
Secretary of the Bridges Division and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Bridges Authority, Mr. Mohammad Abdur Rouf, presented the construction of a bridge over the Meghna River between Bhola and Lakshmipur in the meeting. The Japanese delegation expressed interest in the project and recognized its strategic importance in regional connectivity, trade expansion and economic growth in the southern region.
At the meeting, both Bangladesh and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to make mutual cooperation more effective and fruitful through the Bangladesh-Japan Platform to develop strategic communication infrastructure, sustainable economic growth, increase regional connectivity, create employment, strengthen competitiveness, and ensure the long-term development of Bangladesh.
