National
ADB Secures $261mn for Rampura Amulia Demra Expressway
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has successfully mobilized $261 million in private sector capital for the Rampura Amulia Demra Expressway, a four-lane, 13.5 km project serving as a public-private partnership (PPP) in Bangladesh. By easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Dhaka and other major cities, this initiative promises significant benefits.
Funding for the project comes from a $193 million senior loan provided by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Bank of China, DBS Bank Limited, and Infrastructure Development Company Limited. The remaining $68 million comes from sponsors as equity contributions.
ADB played a crucial role in project structuring, negotiations, tender execution, and provided support for commercial award and financial closure. This expressway will enable quicker access to destinations, benefiting commuters in eastern and southeastern districts of Bangladesh, including Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Sylhet.
The Rampura Amulia Demra PPP project was developed under an availability payment mechanism with partial revenue linked to the US dollar and taka exchange rate movements. ADB’s involvement has paved the way for both availability payment and minimum revenue guarantee mechanisms for future private sector investments in Bangladesh’s infrastructure sector.
As part of their programmatic approach to developing road PPPs, ADB has successfully completed the second financial closure of a PPP transaction as a transaction advisor in Bangladesh. They are currently advising the government on the Joydebpur Mymensingh Expressway PPP project, which will improve connectivity to 10 special economic zones.
The Rampura Amulia Demra Expressway will be managed by a consortium comprising China Communications Construction Company Limited and China Road and Bridge Corporation, handling design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance during a 25-year concession period.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
