Padma Bridge Project financing

Dhaka-Doha talks held

DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Qatari counterpart Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani held talks over the Padma Bridge Project financing and a new international airport construction in Bangladesh.

The premiers also discussed about the upgradation of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and construction of a 1000-MW power plant in the country during a meeting on the sidelines of the US-Islamic World Forum on Tuesday night.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad confirmed journalist about the matter after the meeting held at Ritz Carlton Hotel.

He said issues relating to river dredging and recruitment of more manpower from Bangladesh also came up as part of the discussion.

Both the prime ministers have expressed their keen interest to further strengthen their bilateral ties for mutual benefits of the two countries.

Qatar has recently expressed its keen interest to invest in Bangladesh`s major projects, including Padma bridge construction, a power project, airport upgradation, river dredging and a manpower training institute.

The Gulf state showed the interest when a 10-member delegation of Qatar, led by its Assistant Minister for International Cooperation Affairs Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Jabr Al Thani, met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni in Dhaka.

Bangladesh placed a number of projects -- a 1,000 megawatt LNG-based power plant to be built at a cost of $1.3 billion at Moheshkhali, procurement of five dredgers and ancillary equipment for the revival of the river systems at $55.26 million and a technical training centre that may cost $11 million.

The construction of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and construction of a cargo village at $405 million, upgrading the Kadda-Joydevpur-Debogram-Bhulta-Madanpur road (Dhaka bypass) to four lanes at $140 million were also on the list.

Later, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu met the Prime Minister at Ritz Carlton Hotel.

During the meeting, they discussed issues relating to peace and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Ambassador-At-Large M Ziauddin and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad were also present.

BDST: 1123 HRS, MAY 30, 2012
Edited by: Maria Salam, Asst Output Editor