Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma has said that the India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship had touched new heights across all sectors in recent times.

Bangladesh has also become India’s largest development partner both in terms of value and number of projects, with nearly USD 10 billion extended under concessional financing, he said.

The Indian envoy was speaking at a ground breaking ceremony for the project for “Widening of Baraiyerhat-Heanko-Ramgarh Road” on Wednesday (May 24).

The project is being taken up under Government of India’s third Concessional Line of Credit of USD 4.5 billion extended to the Government of Bangladesh, reads a press release of the High Commission of India (HCI) to Bangladesh.

Verma highlighted the priority accorded by Government of India and Government of Bangladesh to building critical connectivity infrastructure.

For the virtual ceremony held at Sarak Bhaban, Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader was the Chief Guest, and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma along with Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Division, ABM Amin Ullah Nuri participated as Special Guests.

The physical ground breaking ceremony was held for work package-1 with senior officials of Roads and Highways Division present on site.

Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Pranay Verma said more than USD 2 billion has been contracted till date and disbursements crossed the milestone of USD 1 billion during the year 2022.

He expressed appreciation for the fact that India had emerged as the fastest and largest disburser among the development partners of Bangladesh during the most challenging pandemic period.

Verma emphasised the importance of projects in the roads and highways sector, with five projects worth USD 932 million, 12% of the total commitment under implementation by Roads and Highways Department.

Additionally, three supply projects worth USD 91 million for supply of double-decker, single-decker, AC and non-AC buses and heavy-duty trucks have already been completed, thereby taking India’s total project commitment in the roads and highways sector to over USD 1 billion.

The Baraiyerhat-Heanko-Ramgarh road widening project, at a total project cost of USD 80.06 million under Government of India Line of Credit, envisages the widening of approximately 38 kms of the Baraiyerhat-Heanko-Ramgarh road in Ramgarh upazila under Khagrachhari district and would contribute to improvement of the road network between the Chattogram port and the Ramgarh Land Port.

Additionally, with Government of India funded India-Bangladesh Maitree Friendship Bridge on Feni River having already been constructed, this road project will boost two-way trade between Bangladesh and India as well as regional trade of Bangladesh through the Sabroom-Ramgarh LCS.