The Asian Development Bank and the Government of Bangladesh on November
14 signed a technical assistance grant agreement of US$1.5 million for
strengthening the Roads and Highways Department to support the
government’s institutional development initiatives.
The government of Japan is financing the TA through the Japan Fund for
Poverty Reduction. ADB will administer the fund, and provide technical
support for project implementation, says a press release.
The release said the technical assistance project will help modernise
the RHD and streamline its business processes. It will also support RHD
to improve its schemes for maintenance of roads and bridges, and
overloading control.
The technical assistance forms part of ADB’s attempt to strengthen the
capacity of the overall road sector in the country, recent example of
which also includes the ongoing South Asia Sub-regional Economic
Cooperation Road Connectivity Project that will enhance capacity of
major international trade corridors and land ports, thereby boosting the
national economy as well as facilitating sub-regional cooperation and
trade.
‘This TA will help improve human resources, auditing, management
information systems, planning capacity, e-tendering, and computerisation
of the RHD,’ said M Teresa Kho, country director for ADB’s Bangladesh
Resident Mission.
‘In addition to other reforms as per an action plan, a training center for the RHD engineers will also be developed,’ she added. (source)