China offers Bangladesh $133m for govt office linking project

DHAKA -- China will provide $133 million soft loan for a Bangladesh project aimed at bringing all government offices across the country under one network, according to an agreement signed here on Wednesday.

Under the framework agreement between the two governments, China will provide 860 million yuan ($133 million) for the implementation of the "Development of National ICT Infra-Network for Bangladesh Government Phase II".

When the project is implemented, it will be possible to bring all the government offices at district and sub-district levels under one network, said Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance in a statement.

The project will also contribute to the government's vision to build a digital Bangladesh by 2021.

Terming China as one of the most important economic development partners of Bangladesh, the ERD statement said China is providing financial assistance in Bangladesh's various projects, out of which the most important are six friendship bridges.

Apart from constructing the Bangladesh-China Friendship bridges, it said China also gave financial support for the implementation of a number of mega infrastructure projects like the Bangobandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka, Barapukuria Coal Mine and Coal-based Electricity Generation, Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory and upgrading network for 3G mobile technology.