Bangladesh Bridge Scheme Wins ADB Aid

The Padma river in Bangladesh. The Asian Development Bank has approved USD615 million to finance the construction of a multipurpose bridge across the Padma river. Photo by: Sharmin Akther Ami / CC BY-NC-SA Sharmin Akther AmiCC BY-NC-SA

The Asian Development Bank is providing USD615 million for the construction of the Padma bridge, which will link the southwestern, northern and eastern parts of Bangladesh. The project is expected to help boost growth and poverty reduction in the country’s impoverished southwestern region.

The loan covers some 21 percent of the total cost of the Padma bridge project, which is also supported by the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Islamic Development Bank.