Malaysia gets RM10b of projects in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Malaysia has secured infrastructure projects worth a whopping RM10 billion in Bangladesh to be implemented beginning early next year over a period of between two and five years.

Kuala Lumpur and Bangladesh inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the implementation of the projects here Tuesday night.

The document will be handed over to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by Samy Vellu on Thursday.

Describing the deal as win-win, Malaysia's special envoy to India and South Asia Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who is on a four-day working visit to Bangladesh, said the projects included housing; satellite townships; a flyover and water treatment and sewerage treatment plants.

The first project involving the construction of 161 blocks of 16-storey apartments, worth almost RM3 billion, in Uttara near here will start early next year.

"Both governments sealed the MOU after more than six months of negotiations. It is indeed a proud achievement for Malaysia," Samy Vellu told reporters after signing the MOU on behalf of the Malaysian government.

Samy Vellu said work on the apartments was expected to start in a few months after the signing of the agreement.

Another project that will start next year is the 10.8km four-lane Poltan-Mawa Road flyover.

Samy Vellu said other projects included affordable housing for squatters and a new satellite township on a 400-hectare land at Kamrangichar and another similar development in Mohammadpur.

"Malaysia will also build the Dhalla-Jamirta well field to supply clean water to Dhaka," he said, adding that several Malaysian companies have shown interest to participate.

The Construction Industry Development Board will monitor and act as the executing agency for the projects to be jointly undertaken with the respective departments in Bangladesh.

Samy Vellu will brief Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak upon his return to Malaysia on Friday. -- Bernama

Source: MOLE