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China looks to invest more in Bangladesh Railway: Proposes 10 projects

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Published on 08:30 AM, July 15, 2022

China looks to invest more in Bangladesh Railway: Proposes 10 projects


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Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

After high-speed rail and the research and development center of Bangladesh Railway (BR), China now wants to invest for building new rail lines connected to several economic zones, Chittagong Sea Port and new Teesta and Hardinge bridges.

China Energy Engineering Corporation Ltd or Energy China (CEEC), a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, also expressed interest to construct and modernize railway workshops and build accessories factory here.

The company, with a partnership with another state-owned Chinese company, intended to invest in total 10 projects under the Government-to-Government-Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework, documents show.

Zhang Deliang, vice president of China Energy International Group Company Ltd, a subsidiary of CEEC, has sent two separate proposals to the Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on May 22.

The Railways Ministry last month wrote to BR's Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder to give opinion over the proposals upon scrutinizing those, BR sources said.

Under the G2G-PPP arrangement, Bangladesh may request other governments to provide financial support and select state-owned or private entities to act as the investors.

The company will build, maintenance and operate the structure for a certain period and get money following the terms mentioned in the agreement.

No project under the G2G-PPP arrangement has yet to be implemented in Bangladesh. Discussions with several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have been going on to implement some projects under this model.

The Chinese proposal comes at a time when BR is implementing its biggest yet ever project -- Padma Bridge Rail Link -- with Tk 39,246 crore in Chinese loan.

Two more rail projects were expected to be implemented with Chinese loans. Beijing had even selected two Chinese contractors for these projects, but both projects are now uncertain as China pulled out funding from one while the selected Chinese contractor declined to work for another project in a decreased price.

Different Chinese companies are also involved with at least five major railway infrastructure projects, including two fast-track projects -- Padma Bridge Rail Link and Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Rail Link.

Meanwhile, China, earlier this year, has proposed to invest in high-speed railway project between Dhaka and Chattogram under the G2G PPP framework.

The country has also selected China Railway Group Ltd (CREC), a state-run company, for implementing the project, which was apparently put on the back burner considering the huge amount of money -- Tk 93,35,0.93 crore ($1=Tk 84) -- required for its implementation.

Besides, another Chinese state-run company-- China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC)—submitted a proposal to set up a research and development centre for railway in a joint venture with the BR.

None of the proposals yet to see visible progress.

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS

CEEC, a state-owned conglomerate with its headquarters in Beijing, is involved in energy/power, real estate and infrastructure sectors, reads the proposals.

Their partner CRDC, the design enterprise subordinate to China State Railway Group Co Ltd, was involved in carrying out the feasibility study and detailed design for the high-speed rail project, it said.

In a proposal, the company said BR is promoting the process of modernization. But the existing 'aging and disrepair maintenance facilities' cannot meet the growing demand.

At the same time, it said, BR needs to purchase large quantities of spares parts and maintenance tolls from abroad spending foreign exchange.

"We propose to participate in the renovation of the existing workshops under the G2G PPP mode and invest in an accessories factory for domestic sales and supply to surrounding countries," reads the proposal.

It expressed interest to participate in the following projects: construction of a new diesel locomotive workshop in Chattogram; modernization and upgradation of signal workshop at Chattogram's Kadamtali;
reconstruction of existing carriage and wagon workshop in Chattogram; and establishing an accessories factory.

In a separate proposal, it said, Bangladesh has an excellent economic development momentum and has become the region with the most investment potential in South Asia.

As the government is setting up economic zones at Jamalpur, Mirersarai, Feni and other places, the railway link with those economic zones will give huge advantage in transportation because of its abundant transportation capacity, punctuality and quickness, it said.

It is urgent to build several multi-functional bridges due to the natural barrier of the river and lack of crossing facilities. "We wish to adopt PPP/G2G PPP mode to participate in Bangladesh Railway's economic zone rail link line and bridge projects," it added.

The six projects are: construction of railway link to Feni and Mirersai economic zones; Jamalpur Economic Zone; Uttara EPZ in Nilphamari; construction of railway link to Bay Terminal in Chattogram; construction of a new bridge parallel to the existing Hardinge Bridge and Teesta Railway Bridge.

BR has already carried out feasibility study and detail design for rail line to connect Jamalpur and Mirsarai and Feni economic zones and new Teesta Bridge while study is going for Bay Terminal rail link and new Hardinge Bridge, BR source said.

Railways Ministry's Secretary Humayun Kabir and BR's Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder could not be reached over phone for comments, even after sending message.

 
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If it is not urgently needed, the Bangladesh govt had better use foreign exchange resources conservatively.

There is still no hope of an end to the Ukrainian war. We cannot predict when the oil price will fall, nor when the USA will stop inflation and interest rate hikes.
 
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Stupid BD people, learn how to develop your country with your muscle and intelligence. How long you guys will depend upon others?
 
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Stupid BD people, learn how to develop your country with your muscle and intelligence. How long you guys will depend upon others?

You first need to build good schools. And stop rote learning.

That’s a decade old project and will require importing foreign teachers because BD teachers are utter rubbish.
 
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If it is not urgently needed, the Bangladesh govt had better use foreign exchange resources conservatively.

There is still no hope of an end to the Ukrainian war. We cannot predict when the oil price will fall, nor when the USA will stop inflation and interest rate hikes.

The problem is Bangladesh Railway itself: A throughout corrupt incompetent state entity.

Theoretically BD in the coming decades have a huge potential for intercity and regional transportation costumers. But BR is stuck in the 1950s. Its unclear if BR have neccesary competence to operate newly built modern rail and/or HSR in BD.

Hopefully the Government sees this problem and are willing to build a entire new national railway coorporation that can handle this huge potential.
 
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If it is not urgently needed, the Bangladesh govt had better use foreign exchange resources conservatively.

There is still no hope of an end to the Ukrainian war. We cannot predict when the oil price will fall, nor when the USA will stop inflation and interest rate hikes.

Good point but spending on connectivity to economic zones from ports (both already set up) is not wasting money.

Right now rail container transport is in very bad shape (slow, inefficient) however it has existed for over thirty years. Upgrade is needed to

1. More advanced broad gauge dual-stack container carrying cars,
2. The rail that support these (100 lbs plus. heavy duty rail) and
3. Multi-chaining of locomotives to pull longer consists per trains .

iu

This is where things are now (that is a 70 year old Canadian EMD locomotive bought during Pakistan times - still kept alive, soon to be retired).

New engine is Korean Hyundai-Rotem for meter gauge. There are EMD engines inducted from US as well.
iu


And this is where things need to develop to,



iu
 
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Good point but spending on connectivity to economic zones from ports (both already set up) is not wasting money.

Right now rail container transport is in very bad shape (slow, inefficient) however it has existed for over thirty years. Upgrade is needed to

1. More advanced broad gauge dual-stack container carrying cars,
2. The rail that support these (100 lbs plus. heavy duty rail) and
3. Multi-chaining of locomotives to pull longer consists per trains .

iu

This is where things are now (that is a 70 year old Canadian EMD locomotive bought during Pakistan times - still kept alive, soon to be retired).

And this is where things need to develop to,



iu
A rail connection to the ASEAN countries could help Bangladesh export certain goods faster to markets via ports in Thailand or Vietnam, skipping the shipping time needed to go around the Malay peninsula. And via a verse, It would also make Bangladeshi ports (such as Chittagong) attractive to producers in ASEAN countries as well as southern China for export to the Middle East. Food stuffs (like fruit) in particular could be a viable exportable commodity with shorter travel times.
 
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If it is not urgently needed, the Bangladesh govt had better use foreign exchange resources conservatively.

There is still no hope of an end to the Ukrainian war. We cannot predict when the oil price will fall, nor when the USA will stop inflation and interest rate hikes.

British built railways were of poor quality. Only good for transporting cash crops.

Even the ones in Britain are of poor quality. It’s very expensive to maintain.

Hence running cost is huge compared to French and German railways.

Hopefully, China can help us finally demolish British made crap.
 
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British built railways were of poor quality. Only good for transporting cash crops.

Even the ones in Britain are of poor quality. It’s very expensive to maintain.

Hence running cost is huge compared to French and German railways.

Hopefully, China can help us finally demolish British made crap.


Welcome back bro.

Missed you!

Please be careful what you say in future as without you it is harder to fight the trolls on this sub-section.
 
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Welcome back bro.

Missed you!

Please be careful what you say in future as without you it is harder to fight the trolls on this sub-section.

Yes, feeling is mutual!

Why are BD posters feeding Hinduvta trolls. It has to stop!

You cannot fight dirty people with mud!

You need a water cannon.
 
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Yes, feeling is mutual!

Why are BD posters feeding Hinduvta trolls. It has to stop!

You cannot fight dirty people with mud!

You need a water cannon.


I have no real idea bro.:undecided:

Have told them and they all agree with me but keep on doing it.

Maybe they are bored but all it is doing is polluting the BD sub-section.

Anyway like I say good to have you back as we can fight the trolls together now! :sniper:
 
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You first need to build good schools. And stop rote learning.

That’s a decade old project and will require importing foreign teachers because BD teachers are utter rubbish.
Had not foreign teachers from England taught us for 190 years? The result? We remain as brainless and superstitious peasants as our forefathers were some 800 years ago. We learned nothing.

I tell you our present nature. Bring teachers from England, our BD teachers, students, and social leaders will politicize the matter combinedly and start picketing against these Christians making their stay untenable.

But, bring bearded Mullah teachers from SA, people will follow their superstitious teachings because they will be guaranteed Paradise. These Mullahs will proclaim NASA activities are HARAM.

After all, we are a very nationalist group of people who have enough pride that inhibits learning from others. Learning from others means we have little knowledge.

So, we can forget foreign teachers in a country full of unruly mobs.

There are trillions of bits of information and knowledge throughout the pages of books, Standards/ Codes published in developed countries.

Our govt ministers just do not know they exist. But, the people of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and China basically learned from these sources, applied them, and developed them higher gradually.

Why cannot we do so? It is because our politics are not run by highly educated people who have been exposed to knowledge from those sources.
 
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