Dhaka:State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, has commended Chinese firms for their role in major national development projects in Bangladesh, particularly through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Alam emphasized the potential for further development and investment in infrastructure sectors, highlighting the Chinese government's ongoing support in areas such as waste-to-energy, water supply, and road and bridge construction. His remarks came during a meeting with a delegation from the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), led by its Chairman Dai Hegen, at the ministry's conference room.
The State Minister highlighted the extensive structure of Bangladesh’s local government system, explaining that key development authorities like LGED, WASA, City Corporations, and the Department of Public Health Engineering operate under the Local Government Division. This division oversees a vast network of 500 Upazila Parishads, 13 City Corporations, 330 municipalities, 4,900 Union Parishads, and 61 Zila Parishads, facilitating significant infrastructure, water supply, drainage, and waste management projects nationwide.
Alam noted that the modern technology and experience of CRCC could be instrumental in transforming villages into urban-like areas and reconstructing infrastructure comprehensively.
CRCC Chairman Dai Hegen stated that the corporation, which operates in over 150 countries with assets valued at US$300 billion, maintains a leading position in the global contracting sector. He shared that CRCC currently has 24 ongoing projects in Bangladesh, totaling US$ 1.36 billion, and has completed several mega-projects including the Cox’s Bazar Rail Link and the Dhaka-Ashulia Elevated Expressway.
Hegen also expressed CRCC's interest in deploying its innovative technologies in Bangladesh, focusing on renewable energy, waste-to-energy, solar power, and safe drinking water provision. CRCC aims to remain a long-term, reliable partner in the balanced development of both rural and urban regions across the country.
The discussion was attended by Secretary of the Local Government Division Md. Shahidul Hassan, Administrator of the Dhaka South City Corporation Md Abdus Salam, Managing Director of Dhaka WASA Dr. Md Moniruzzaman, and other senior officials.