Bangladesh signs contracts for 12 projects worth $654.71 million with India; A 10-day Vital Infrastructure Security training course, held by the US government in Bangladesh; US Senate Report: Two Bangladesh Banks are involved in terrorist financing; PM Ha
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    • Reports noted that Bangladesh has so far signed contracts for 12 projects worth $654.71 million with India for developing its infrastructure under the neighbour's $1 billion line of credit. Of the projects, bidding for four projects is under process, while letters of credit (LC) for another four have been opened. The rest are waiting approval or are in a pre-bid process, according to India High Commission data. Under the first project, Bangladesh will buy 300 double-decker buses, 100 single-decker buses and 50 articulated buses (having two sections linked by a joint) at a cost of $36.85 million. A total of 91 double-decker buses have already been delivered by Ashok Leyland and 35 are in transit. The final delivery for the rest of the double-decker buses will be made by the end of October. The second project to procure 180 broad gauge bogie oil tank wagons and six broad gauge bogie brake vans from Indian Texmaco Rail Engineering Ltd will cost $17.38 million. Under the third project, a second Bhairab and second Titas bridge with approach rail lines will be constructed at a cost of $120 million. A contract was signed with STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd of India in November last year. Under the fourth project, 10 broad gauge diesel electric locomotives will be procured at a cost of $33.048 million. The $7.43 million contract for the fifth project to buy 100 metre gauge bogie tank wagons and five metre gauge brake vans was signed with Texmaco Rail Engineering Ltd in March and the LC was opened in May. Under the sixth project, 30 broad gauge diesel electric locomotives will be purchased from India and a contract for this has been signed with RITES in June this year. Construction of the Khulna-Mongla port rail line, including a feasibility study, under the seventh project, will cost $175 million. Apart from the seven projects, the bidding for four other projects is ongoing.1

    In another development, according to reports, a 10-day Vital Infrastructure Security training course, held by the US government through the state department's Anti-terrorism Assistance Program and the US embassy's Regional Security Office, concluded in Dhaka on July 12, 2012. Officers from Special Branch, Armed Police Battalion, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Public Works Department, Special Security Force, Fire Service and Civil Defence Directorate, and National Parliament participated in the training. 2

    According to reports, Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd and Social Islami Bank Ltd came into the spotlight on July 17, 2012 for their alleged links to terrorist financing after a US Senate report exposed British banking giant HSBC's internal governance failure to control flows of suspect funds. 3 However, both Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd and Social Islami Bank Limited refuted to have any link with any terrorist financing. 4

    Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on July 19, 2012, has claimed that 50 million poor people had been uplifted to the middle class group during the present government's tenure due to developments in many sectors. 5

    In other developments, according to reports, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has dropped Bangladesh from the list of countries with unsafe civil aviation systems nearly three years after the organisation blacklisted the country. No local airlines obtained approval to operate flights on international routes while Bangladesh was on the significant safety concern list for the last three years. But now they are likely get permission to fly new international routes. Besides, several European countries are expected to lift restrictions on Bangladeshi aircraft using most of their airports. 6

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