‘GDP to grow 2% after opening 3 mega projects’

The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 1.5-2 per cent more when the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Dhaka Metro Rail and Karnafuli Tunnel will be opened, State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam has said.

“The projects will play a massive role in the country’s economy as these will accelerate the economic growth,” said the state minister.

State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam said Padma Bridge is supposed to be opened in June 2022, while Karnaphuli tunnel in October 2022 and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)-6 in December 2022.

Echoing the state minister, Planning Minister MA Mannan said three mega projects will play a significant role in accelerating the economic growth of the country.

The government considers designing and undertaking metro rail projects for Chattogram and other major cities having larger airports as done in Dhaka, he said.

The issue for metro rail projects for other large cities was discussed at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council held virtually with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair on Tuesday.

The prime minister joined the meeting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban, while others were connected from the NEC conference room.

“The prime minister said not only in Dhaka, the metro rail project should also be in Chattogram. Prepare a design for the metro rail project for Chattogram airport to Chattogram railway station. Later, we should go for designs for metro rail like projects in large cities where there’re big airports,” he said.

The minister hoped that metro rail projects would be placed for other large cities in the future.

“We, on part of the Planning Commission, will also encourage city corporations to design such projects,” he said.