Dhaka to Build Metro With Japan’s Help

Bangladesh will sign a loan agreement with Japan for a multi-million-dollar metro rail project aimed at easing traffic congestion in the capital city of Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.

The project would involve Taka 160,000 million (around $1,957 million). Japan will finance 80 percent of the expenditure. The prime minister told parliament the government has finalized locations of depots and stations.

After a meeting with a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said construction work under the project would begin towards the end of 2013.

"The process of land acquisition has already begun. The main construction under the metro rail project will begin between October and December 2013," he said.