On November 25, 2024, Bangladesh and Japan signed agreements for a Japanese ODA loan of 39,902 million Japanese Yen ($248.88 million) to support two major projects: the Jamuna Railway Bridge Construction and the Chattogram Sewerage System Development. The agreements, under the 45th ODA loan package (1st batch), were signed by representatives from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Japan’s Embassy, and JICA. For the Jamuna project, Japan will provide 38,206 million Yen ($237.68 million), with the total project cost estimated at Tk16,780.96 crore. Construction, which began in July 2016, is scheduled for completion by December 2025, and the loans come with favorable repayment terms, including a 1.70% interest rate for construction.
The Chattogram project will receive 1,696 million Yen ($11.20 million). Costing Tk5,152.56 crore, it aims to improve sanitation and preserve aquatic environments in the city. Japan remains Bangladesh’s largest bilateral development partner, committing $32.37 billion since independence.