Execution of mega projects won t affect economy: PM Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the country's economy and foreign currency reserves will not face any adverse impact because of the implementation of the mega projects.

While speaking at the National Parliament PM Hasina said_ Proper financial and economic analyses were done before the mega projects were taken.

She noted_ most of the mega projects were undertaken with foreign loans or grants_ and these are soft loans with a comparatively lower interest rate_ long repayment tenure and long grace period.

She briefed about details of the implementation progress and current status of 16 mega projects including Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction Project_ Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Rampal 1320-megawatt friendship super thermal power project.

The other projects are the Matarbari 1200-MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power project_ Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development_ LNG Terminal Construction and Gas Pipeline Installation Project_ Payra Deep Sea Port_ Padma Bridge Rail Link Project_ and Construction of Single Line Dual Gauge Track from Dohajari to Cox s Bazar via Ramu_ from Ramu to Gundum.
 
The remaining mega projects include Payra Thermal Power Plant_ the Construction of a Broad-gauge rail line from Bhanga Junction (Faridpur) to Payra port and Kuakata via Barishal_ Cox s Bazar Airport Development Project_ Establishment of Economic Zones_ Ashrayan-2 Project_ Multi-lane road tunnel under Karnaphuli River and SASEC Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development Project.

She said_ huge employments have been generated. The projects are being undertaken as per the need to continue the trend of development in economic_ social and all other sectors of the country.