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China looks to invest more in Bangladesh Railway: Proposes 10 projects

A rail connection to the ASEAN countries could help Bangladesh export certain goods faster to markets via ports in Thailand or Vietnam, skipping the shipping time needed to go around the Malay peninsula. And via a verse, It would also make Bangladeshi ports (such as Chittagong) attractive to producers in ASEAN countries as well as southern China for export to the Middle East. Food stuffs (like fruit) in particular could be a viable exportable commodity with shorter travel times.

Good points and I agree. However we don't have a direct border with China - the rail route has to go through two problematic neighbors, India and Myanmar.

China's interest in developing the route is not there as Kunming already has a route to Myanmar ports, and India will block any attempt to connect to the Bay of Bengal through itself and Bangladesh (as it is opposed to the Chinese string of pearls or "Belt and Road" initiative) as they see it.

iu


India and China relations are also problematic to say the least and trying to go through India and Myanmar to Kunming in China (or using the Myanmar rail route to Thailand) are both ridden with problems, as Myanmar as a country is unstable, the rail route in some areas is unreliable and will remain so for the near future.

The best option is to connect for container traffic in the Thai mainland port of Ranong/U-Tapao/Pattaya which is around 900 miles from Chittagong. Thais can then transport these containers via rail to other places in ASEAN as they see fit. Our private sea freight operators already do this for some China bound containers.

Going around the straits of Malacca and Singapore is not a major time waster as Chittagong has direct marine container connection services with ports in China, the ships don't stop in S' pore.

iu
 
Good points and I agree. However we don't have a direct border with China - the rail route has to go through two problematic neighbors, India and Myanmar.
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China is working on creating a direct border with BD & give independence to india north east at the same time.

If it is not urgently needed, the Bangladesh govt had better use foreign exchange resources conservatively.

There is still no hope of an end to the Ukrainian war. We cannot predict when the oil price will fall, nor when the USA will stop inflation and interest rate hikes.
Nothing better than infra work during crisis time. If the coming recession is as bad as I think it'll be, oil & other prices will fall in no time.
Besides, the point of these massive infra is to help the economy withstand future crisis.

After india northeast is freed, the amount of people & freight from there, Bhutan, Nepal, even China that need to transit BD to the world can make BD rich just from collecting toll.
 
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China is working on creating a direct border with BD & give independence to india north east at the same time.


Nothing better than infra work during crisis time. If the coming recession is as bad as I think it'll be, oil & other prices will fall in no time.
Besides, the point of these massive infra is to help the economy withstand future crisis.

After india northeast is freed, the amount of people & freight from there, Bhutan, Nepal, even China that need to transit BD to the world can make BD rich just from collecting toll.
Do you really think it is so easy to cross the international border by China or any other country in this era? A destructive war will flare up at that.

The China-BD connection can be made through Burma if it allows doing so. A rail link can be made between our Gundam and Mandalay in MM. From there the line goes to Kunming. Note the map below:

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Map: Courtesy of @Bilal9
 
Do you really think it is so easy to cross the international border by China or any other country in this era? A destructive war will flare up at that.

The China-BD connection can be made through Burma if it allows doing so. A rail link can be made between our Gundam and Mandalay in MM. From there the line goes to Kunming. Note the map below:

View attachment 862551

Map: Courtesy of @Bilal9
The Burmese military govt has suspended the B&R project, and they are blackmailing China to recognize the Burmese military government.

Until the military govt of Myanmar and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reach a reconciliation, there is no room for cooperation between China and Myanmar.
 
Soon, ANI ,sunday guardian news will release article representing bangladeshi's indignation .
 
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Flashy!

what? Is building at least one high-speed rail not an Indian dream?

Is it an Indian dream to use at least one high-speed railway to make profits?



Screenshot_20220717_122003.jpg


every time!! Talk about India's high-speed rail dream. Indians or others will steal the pictures of Wuhan high-speed rail system!

Now I'll give you more pictures of Wuhan high-speed railway, enough for you to dream of Indian high-speed railway?

8698-fyrcsrw4259377.jpg

Screenshot_20220717_122720.jpg
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Like to steal pictures of Wuhan high-speed railway?? I'll give you more. Be honest, this is your Indian dream. lol
 
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The Burmese military govt has suspended the B&R project, and they are blackmailing China to recognize the Burmese military government.

Until the military govt of Myanmar and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reach a reconciliation, there is no room for cooperation between China and Myanmar.

Thanks for the info brother.

Yeah it is what it is. Moving containers by rail in Bangladesh to/from China will have to wait for now.
 
Published on 08:30 AM, July 15, 2022

China looks to invest more in Bangladesh Railway: Proposes 10 projects


train.jpg

Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

After high-speed rail and the research and development center of Bangladesh Railway (BR), China now wants to invest for building new rail lines connected to several economic zones, Chittagong Sea Port and new Teesta and Hardinge bridges.

China Energy Engineering Corporation Ltd or Energy China (CEEC), a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, also expressed interest to construct and modernize railway workshops and build accessories factory here.

The company, with a partnership with another state-owned Chinese company, intended to invest in total 10 projects under the Government-to-Government-Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework, documents show.

Zhang Deliang, vice president of China Energy International Group Company Ltd, a subsidiary of CEEC, has sent two separate proposals to the Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on May 22.

The Railways Ministry last month wrote to BR's Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder to give opinion over the proposals upon scrutinizing those, BR sources said.

Under the G2G-PPP arrangement, Bangladesh may request other governments to provide financial support and select state-owned or private entities to act as the investors.

The company will build, maintenance and operate the structure for a certain period and get money following the terms mentioned in the agreement.

No project under the G2G-PPP arrangement has yet to be implemented in Bangladesh. Discussions with several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have been going on to implement some projects under this model.

The Chinese proposal comes at a time when BR is implementing its biggest yet ever project -- Padma Bridge Rail Link -- with Tk 39,246 crore in Chinese loan.

Two more rail projects were expected to be implemented with Chinese loans. Beijing had even selected two Chinese contractors for these projects, but both projects are now uncertain as China pulled out funding from one while the selected Chinese contractor declined to work for another project in a decreased price.

Different Chinese companies are also involved with at least five major railway infrastructure projects, including two fast-track projects -- Padma Bridge Rail Link and Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Rail Link.

Meanwhile, China, earlier this year, has proposed to invest in high-speed railway project between Dhaka and Chattogram under the G2G PPP framework.

The country has also selected China Railway Group Ltd (CREC), a state-run company, for implementing the project, which was apparently put on the back burner considering the huge amount of money -- Tk 93,35,0.93 crore ($1=Tk 84) -- required for its implementation.

Besides, another Chinese state-run company-- China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC)—submitted a proposal to set up a research and development centre for railway in a joint venture with the BR.

None of the proposals yet to see visible progress.

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS

CEEC, a state-owned conglomerate with its headquarters in Beijing, is involved in energy/power, real estate and infrastructure sectors, reads the proposals.

Their partner CRDC, the design enterprise subordinate to China State Railway Group Co Ltd, was involved in carrying out the feasibility study and detailed design for the high-speed rail project, it said.

In a proposal, the company said BR is promoting the process of modernization. But the existing 'aging and disrepair maintenance facilities' cannot meet the growing demand.

At the same time, it said, BR needs to purchase large quantities of spares parts and maintenance tolls from abroad spending foreign exchange.

"We propose to participate in the renovation of the existing workshops under the G2G PPP mode and invest in an accessories factory for domestic sales and supply to surrounding countries," reads the proposal.

It expressed interest to participate in the following projects: construction of a new diesel locomotive workshop in Chattogram; modernization and upgradation of signal workshop at Chattogram's Kadamtali;
reconstruction of existing carriage and wagon workshop in Chattogram; and establishing an accessories factory.

In a separate proposal, it said, Bangladesh has an excellent economic development momentum and has become the region with the most investment potential in South Asia.

As the government is setting up economic zones at Jamalpur, Mirersarai, Feni and other places, the railway link with those economic zones will give huge advantage in transportation because of its abundant transportation capacity, punctuality and quickness, it said.

It is urgent to build several multi-functional bridges due to the natural barrier of the river and lack of crossing facilities. "We wish to adopt PPP/G2G PPP mode to participate in Bangladesh Railway's economic zone rail link line and bridge projects," it added.

The six projects are: construction of railway link to Feni and Mirersai economic zones; Jamalpur Economic Zone; Uttara EPZ in Nilphamari; construction of railway link to Bay Terminal in Chattogram; construction of a new bridge parallel to the existing Hardinge Bridge and Teesta Railway Bridge.

BR has already carried out feasibility study and detail design for rail line to connect Jamalpur and Mirsarai and Feni economic zones and new Teesta Bridge while study is going for Bay Terminal rail link and new Hardinge Bridge, BR source said.

Railways Ministry's Secretary Humayun Kabir and BR's Director General Dhirendra Nath Mazumder could not be reached over phone for comments, even after sending message.



Good proposal, but BD is not yet ready for this i suspect economically to make it viable.

Keep it in mind and revisit in a few years

A rail connection to the ASEAN countries could help Bangladesh export certain goods faster to markets via ports in Thailand or Vietnam, skipping the shipping time needed to go around the Malay peninsula. And via a verse, It would also make Bangladeshi ports (such as Chittagong) attractive to producers in ASEAN countries as well as southern China for export to the Middle East. Food stuffs (like fruit) in particular could be a viable exportable commodity with shorter travel times.
Asean connection depends on burma....BD can not and should not base any descision that relies on that fascist hellhole.

Although a sound proposal, it is unviable due to lack of sound partners.
 
Good proposal, but BD is not yet ready for this i suspect economically to make it viable.

Keep it in mind and revisit in a few years


Asean connection depends on burma....BD can not and should not base any descision that relies on that fascist hellhole.

Although a sound proposal, it is unviable due to lack of sound partners.
The central govt of Myanmar is unable to control several autonomous states in northern Myanmar.

If the Bangladesh govt can connect to Kachin state in Myanmar through Assam state in India, the Chinese govt can solve the route problem in northern Myanmar.
 

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