Bangladesh indebted to China for friendship bridges, eyes more infrastructure projects

Seven friendship bridges have already been completed across Bangladesh owing to Chinese grants, and the eighth is under construction.

The construction of the first Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, with a span of more than 917 meters in length, began in October 1986, and was completed in February 1989.

Bangladeshi Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said China has been contributing greatly to the infrastructural development of Bangladesh.

Describing China as a "trusted friend" and an "important stakeholder in the global economy," Quader said he hoped for more Chinese assistance in implementing major projects across the country.

Friendship bridges assisted by the Chinese government have greatly improved the infrastructure in Bangladesh and enhanced the country's economic development, Quader said.

Building friendship bridges has surely underscored the ongoing friendship between Bangladesh and China, and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on several occasions has thanked China for its contributions to Bangladesh's economic development.

Hasina now expects that Bangladesh will be able to reach its desired goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041, with the support from China and other friendly countries.

Although many years have elapsed since the friendship bridges were built, Bangladeshi people still remember with much reverence and fondness the Chinese people and their sound technical knowledge, skills and friendliness.