This is a list of megaprojects of Bangladesh. "(i.e. projects) characterized by: large investment commitment, vast complexity (especially in organizational terms), and long-lasting impact on the economy, the environment, and society". The number of such projects is so large that the list may never be fully completed. The Finance Minister of Bangladesh has recently unveiled an extensive roster of ambitious mega projects encompassing various sectors. These projects primarily focus on the construction of hospitals, schools, colleges, and other essential infrastructures. Consequently, this development surge is expected to generate a substantial demand for cement within the country. [1]
Terms used in the Status Column | Status Color |
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Proposed | |
In Planning, Approved, Under/In Development, Under Construction, Re-Construction In Progress, Nearly Complete | |
On Hold | |
Abandoned, Cancelled | |
Completed |
Project | Type | Location | Status | Cost | Notes |
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Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Terminal 3 | International airport | Dhaka | 98% completed [2] | US$2.5 Billion | Expansion will include a passenger terminal with a floor area of roughly 226,000 m2 (2,430,000 sq.ft); a 5,900 m2 (64,000 sq.ft) square VVIP complex; a 41,200 m2 (443,000 sq.ft) cargo building; and multi-level car park building with a tunnel. Upon completion of the third terminal, the passenger handling capacity of the airport will increase to 24 million from the current 8 million per annum. Cargo handling capacity will also increase to 500,000 from 200,000 tonnes annually. Completion by July 2025. |
Cox's Bazar Airport Expansion Project | International airport | Cox's Bazar, Chittagong | 93% completed [3] | US$300 Million | Once completed, it would be the fourth international airport in Bangladesh. |
Osmani International Airport Expansion Project | International airport | Sylhet | 22% completed [4] | US$255 Million | Post completion of the new terminal building the passenger capacity of the airport will be upgraded to 2 million per annum from the current capacity of 600,000 per annum. |
Project | Location | Route | Length | Status | Cost | Traffic | Notes | Provided Image |
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Padma Bridge | Louhajong, Munshiganj Shariatpur, Madaripur | 6.15 km [5] | Completed | $3.868 billion Or, Tk 30,193 crore | Road and Rail | Padma multipurpose bridge is considered the most challenging construction project in the history of Bangladesh. [6] It is the longest bridge in Bangladesh, and the longest over Ganges River in terms of both span and the total length. | ||
Padma Rail Link | Dhaka, Mawa, Bhanga, Jessore | Dhaka-Narayanganj-Sreenagar-Mawa-Shibchar-Bhanga-Muksudpur-Kashiani-Lohagara-Narail-Jamdia-Rupdia-Jessore | 169 km [7] | Completed | $4.63 billion or Tk 39,246 crore | Rail | [8] Work was divided into 4 sections. Section-1: Dhaka - Gandaria (3 km), Section-2: Gandaria - Mawa (37 km), Section-3: Mawa - Bhanga Junction - Bhanga (42 km), Section-4: Bhanga Junction - Jessore (87 km). | |
Bangabandhu Railway Bridge | Sirajganj, Jamuna River | 4.8 km [9] | Completed | $1.6 billion | Rail | 4.8 km long railway bridge near Bangabandhu Bridge, is expected to be the largest dedicated rail bridge in the country. [10] [11] Slated to be operational by January 2025. [12] [13] | ||
Rupsha Rail Bridge | Khulna, Rupsha RIver | 5.13 km [14] | Completed [15] | $500 million | Rail | The bridge has seven 102.4m long Double Warren Open-web Truss Girders with one hundered and thirty-six 32.2m long Composite Plate Girders for Viaducts on either side. |
Project | Location | Route | Length | Status | Cost | Traffic | Notes | Provided Image |
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Karnaphuli Tunnel | Chittagong, Karnaphuli River | Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar | 3.32 km [16] | Completed [17] | $1.2 billion Or, Tk 10,690 crore | Underwater Road Tunnel | First underwater tunnel in South Asian region and a part of Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway network. [18] | |
Dhaka Elevated Expressway | Dhaka | Shahjalal Airport- Banani- Tejgaon- Mogbazar-Kamalapur- Chittagong Road | 19.73 km [19] | Completed | $1.63 billion Or, Tk 13,858 crore | Expressway | [20] Work was divided into 3 sections. Section-1: Shahjalal international airport to Banani (7.45 km), Section - 2: Banani to Moghbazar (5.85 km), Section - 3: Moghbazar to Kutubkhali (6.43 km). [21] | |
Chittagong Elevated Expressway | Chittagong | 18 km [22] | 80% completed | $4 billion | Expressway | |||
Dhaka - Chittagong Expressway | Dhaka - Chittagong | 217 km | Cancelled [23] [24] | Expressway | ||||
BRT Line 3 | Dhaka | Gazipur-Airport-Mohakhali-Ramna-Gulistan-Keraniganj-Jhilmil | 22.4 km [25] | 70% completed | Bus Rapid Transit | |||
BRT Line 7 | Dhaka, Narayanganj | Kamargaon-Narayanganj | 34 km [26] | Proposed | Bus Rapid Transit | |||
Dhaka Inner Ring Road | Dhaka | 88 km [27] | Proposed | Road | ||||
Dhaka Outer Ring Road | Dhaka | 132 km [27] | Proposed | Road | ||||
Bus Route Rationalization | Dhaka | n/a | n/a | Proposed | Road Transport | DTCA [28] |
Project | Location | Route | Length | Status | Cost | Traffic | Notes | Provided Image |
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Dhaka-Chittagong High-Speed Railway | Dhaka-Chittagong | 227.3 km [29] | Cancelled | $15 billion | High-Speed Rail | China and Australia had shown interest in financing the project. Not approved by government. [30] | ||
Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Railway Link | Chittagong, Cox's Bazar | 100 km [31] | Completed | $2.13 billion Or. Tk 18,034 crore | Suburban Rail | Part of Trans - Asian Railway [32] | ||
Dhaka MRT Line-6 | Dhaka | Uttara North–Agargaon | 21.26 km [33] | Completed | $2.8 billion, Or Tk 32,985 crore | Rapid Transit | Phase 1 consists of 11.73 km of track. | |
Agargaon–Motijheel | Completed | Phase 2 consists of an 8.37 km extension. | ||||||
Motijheel-Kamalapur | 5.5% completed | Phase 3 consists of an 1.16 km extension. To be operational from 2026. | ||||||
Dhaka MRT Line-1 (Purbachal Route) | Dhaka | Purbachal New Town Project- Notun Bazar | 11.8 km [34] | Under construction | Rapid Transit | Expected to be operational from 2026. | ||
Dhaka MRT Line-1 (Airport Route) | Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-Kamalapur | 18.8 km [34] | Under construction | $6.1 billion | Rapid Transit | The line will be underground. The length of this line will be 19.872 km (12.348 mi). [35] Expected to be operational from 2026. | ||
Dhaka MRT Line-2 | Dhaka | Gabtoli - Narayanganj (Main Line) / Sararghat (Branch Line) | 35 km | Proposed | Rapid Transit | Expected to be operational from 2030. | ||
Dhaka MRT Line-4 | Dhaka | Kamalapur metro station - Madanpur | 16 km [36] | Proposed | $2.8 billion | Rapid Transit | Expected to be operational from 2030. | |
Dhaka MRT Line-5 (Northern Route) | Dhaka | Hemayetpur - Vatara | 20 km [34] | Under construction | $4.6 billion or Tk 41238.54 crore | Rapid Transit | Expected to be operational from 2028. | |
Dhaka MRT Line 5 (Southern Route) | Gabtoli - Dasherkandi | 17.4 km [34] | Approved | $4.7 billion | Rapid Transit | Expected to be operational from 2030. | ||
Dhaka Subway | Dhaka | 238 km [37] | Proposed | $8 billion | Rapid Transit | Dhaka Subway is an underground urban rail network being planned in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority. It will have 11 lines with a total length of 258 kilometres (160 mi). The first subway expected to be built is a route 28.71 kilometres (17.84 mi) long between Tongi and Jhilmil at a cost of $8 billion. Three more routes are likely to be built by 2030 with the entire network completed in 2041. [38] | ||
Chittagong Metro Rail | Chittagong | 58 km [39] | Approved | Rapid Transit | Approved from Road Transport and Highways Division. Currently feasibility is conducted by KOICA and will be completed by June 2025. [40] | |||
Dhaka Circular Railway | Dhaka | 81 km [41] | Proposed | Suburban Rail | Expected to be operational from 2030 (if approved). |
Project | Location | Capacity (MW) | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant | Ishwardi, Pabna District | 2400MW [42] | 94.64% completed | $12.65 billion | Country's first nuclear power plant. First unit to be operational by 2024 and second unit by 2025. Date extended to June 2027 for complete operation. | |
Matarbari Power Plant | Cox's Bazar | 1200MW | 95% completed | N/A | The first of two units began operation on a trial basis in July 2023. [43] | |
Nuclear Power Plant | Southern Bangladesh | Proposed | Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had expressed government's plan to build second power plant in Southern Bangladesh. [44] | |||
Payra Thermal Power plant | Patuakhali, Payra | 1320MW | Completed | $2.48 billion | It is the largest hydrocarbon power plant in Bangladesh. Inaugurated by Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 21 March 2022 | |
Banshkhali Power Plant | Banshkhali, Chattogram | 1350MW | Under construction | |||
Underground Power Distribution System | Dhaka, Narayanganj | 1001 km [45] | Under Construction | $2.5 billion or TK 20,500 Crore | DPDC officials have said that the China funded mega scheme also includes setting up 40 substations in the city and moving overhead cables. |
Project | Location | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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Matarbari Deep Sea Port | Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar | 18% completed | $2.409 billion | First deep sea port of Bangladesh. Projected completion in 2026. | |
Payra Sea Port | Payra, Barisal | Completed | Tk5,219 crore | Originally planned as a deep sea port, project has been changed to a regular port due to dredging costs. |
Project | Location | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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Bangladesh Navy frigate program | Chittagong Dry Dock Limited | 1% completed | Approx. $2.0 - $2.5 billion | Six stealth guided missile frigates are expected to be constructed at Chittagong Dry Dock Limited for Bangladesh Navy and launched into service in 2030. | |
BNS Sheikh Hasina Submarine Base | Cox's Bazar, Chittagong | Completed | $1.2 billion | A full-fledged submarine base of the Bangladesh Navy capable of anchoring six submarines and eight warships. | |
Next Generation Fighter-jet programme | Proposed | $3 billion | Procurement program for 16 western-origin twin-engine fighter aircraft. As of 2023 [update] , Eurofighter Typhoon tranche 4 and Dassault Rafale are the top contenders. | ||
Indigenous Trainer Development Programme | Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre | Proposed | On June 14, 2023, in Bangladesh Air Force Academy, Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan announced BAF engineers have successfully developed a prototype for indigenous aircraft and will be officially revealed in future. In November 2023, inaugural test flight of the BBT-2 was conducted. |
Project | Location | Height | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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Legacy Tower | Purbachal | 465 m / 1525 ft | Under construction | n/a | 111-floor supertall commercial skyscraper. Expected to be operational from 2034. | |
Liberation Tower | Purbachal | 328 m / 1076 ft | Under construction | n/a | 71-floor supertall commercial skyscraper. Expected to be operational from 2030. | |
Language Tower | Purbachal | 259 m / 849 ft | Under construction | n/a | 52-floor commercial skyscraper. Expected to be operational from 2034. | |
Purbachal Central Business District | Purbachal | -- | Under construction | $17 billion | Three super-tall skyscrapers, surrounded by thirty-eight 40+ floor skyscrapers. Expected to be operational from December 2024. | |
Iconic Tower | Purbachal | 734 m / 2408 ft | Vision | $1.2 billion | 142-floor megatall skyscraper. Expected to be operational from 2034. | |
Sheikh Hasina Tower | Dhaka | -- | Proposed | n/a | Supertall 75 story commercial skyscraper as a centerpiece of proposed CBD on the banks of Buriganga river. [46] | |
Jolshiri Twin Towers - Tower 1 | Jolshiri Abashon, Rupganj, Narayanganj | n/a | Under construction | n/a | Proposed skyscraper in Jolshiri Abashon CBD. [47] | |
Jolshiri Twin Towers - Tower 2 | Jolshiri Abashon, Rupganj, Narayanganj | n/a | Under construction | n/a | Proposed skyscraper in Jolshiri Abashon CBD. [47] | |
Jolshiri Central Business District | Jolshiri Abashon, Rupganj, Narayanganj | n/a | Under construction | n/a | A modern Central Business District with skyscrapers, high rises, glass and modern buildings with advanced facilities. [47] | |
Kamrangirchar Central Business District | Kamrangirchar, Dhaka | n/a | Proposed | n/a | A modern Central Business District with 1200 acres of land that will have skyscrapers, high rise convention centers, and a 75 storied central modern building with advanced facilities to attract foreign businesses similar to Shanghai or Dubai. [48] | |
Ashrayan Project | Nationwide | n/a | Under Construction | n/a | Ashrarayan-2 is a project related to poverty alleviation through rehabilitation and income-generating activities. The project provides various income-generating need-based training like handicrafts, poultry, psiculture, gardening, agriculture, cattle rearing, etc. This project is a Social Safety Net Programme of the government. | |
My Village My Town | Rural area | n/a | Proposed [49] | Tk1.5 trillion | It is a Peri-Urbanisation project for 87,230 villages from 64 district. It is one of the most expensive but necessary project for Bangladesh to go step by step through decentralization. |
Project | Location | Capacity | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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The Boat | Purbachal | 50,000 - 70,000 | Under construction | $140 million | Largest stadium in the country, most expensive cricket stadium in Asia and third largest cricket stadium in the world. Bangladesh Cricket Board is financing the project. To be operational from 2026. |
Project | Location | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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Teesta River Management Project | Rangpur Division | Proposed | $1 Billion | Taming and irrigation project because of the periodic drying up of the Teesta River in Bangladesh due to the Dam and water block by India. [50] [51] [52] Chinese government showed interest in investment and technical help for this project |
Project | Location | Status | Cost | Notes | Provided Image |
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Bangladesh Delta Plan, 2100 [53] | Coastal Area | Vision | $38 Billion USD | BDP(Bangladesh Delta Plan) 2100 Investment Plan (IP) consists of a total of 80 projects: 65 are physical projects, and 15 are institutional and knowledge development projects at the first phase up to 2030. |
Project | Status | Cost | Vehicle | Notes | Provided Image |
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Bangabandhu Satellite-1 | Launched | $248 million | Falcon 9 | Launched in 2018 | |
Bangabandhu Satellite-2 | Approved | $435 million | Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd (BSCL) has already signed a cooperation contract with Glavkosmos from Russia for the purpose of launching Bangabandhu 2 satellite by December 2023. [54] However, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the future of the project is uncertain. [55] |
Project | Location | Status | Area | Investment | Investors | Notes | Provided Image |
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Japanese Economic Zone | Araihazar, Narayanganj | Proposed | 991 acres / 4.01 km2 [56] | $1 Billion USD (expected) [57] | N/A | A project of BEZA and JICA Employment numbers are around 100,000(proposed) [56] | |
Mirsarai Economic Zone [58] | Chittagong | Approved | 30,000 acres / 121.40 km2 [59] | $100 Billion USD | Honda, SK, Nippon Steel, Mercedes, BMW, Wilmar, Adani, Berger Paints, Asian Paints, PHP, Bashundhara, BSRM, MEIGO etc. | Largest Economic zone in Asia [60] | |
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) industrial park | Munshiganj | Approved | 216 acres / 0.87 km2 [61] [62] | 301 Crore Tk | Square, Beximco, SK+F, Renata Ltd, Incepta etc. | Specialized Economic Zone on Pharmaceutical Raw Material Manufacting. |
Transport in Bangladesh is dominated by roadways, accounting for the majority of both passenger and cargo traffic due to substantial development efforts since independence. Eight major national highways connect the capital, Dhaka, with divisional and district headquarters, port cities, and international routes. Despite this, vehicle usage per capita remains low, with non-motorised modes prevailing. However, Bangladesh's roads are unsafe, having one of the highest road accident fatality rates. They also suffer from high congestion, as well as severe air and noise pollution.
The Padma is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the eastern and main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for 356 kilometres (221 mi) to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is situated on the banks of the river. Since 1966, over 66,000 hectares of land has been lost to erosion of the Padma.
Kamalapur Railway Station, officially Dhaka Railway Station, is the central railway station in Kamalapur, Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh. It is the largest station and the busiest infrastructure for transportation in the country that acts as a gateway of the country's capital. It was opened on 1 May 1968.
The Dhaka Metro Rail, or simply the Dhaka Metro, is a mass rapid transit system serving Dhaka, the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. It is operated by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). Together with the under construction Dhaka BRT, proposed Dhaka Subway and Dhaka suburban circular rail, it is expected to reduce traffic congestion in the city. The metro rail network has five planned lines which are the MRT Line 6, the only operational line, MRT Line 1 and MRT line 5, which are under construction, and MRT Line 2 and MRT Line 4, which are in the planning stages. It is part of the Strategic Transport Plan outlined by the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).
Dhaka Subway is an underground urban rail network being planned in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority. Dhaka Subway was conceived as a separate transport system to the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit network, commonly known as Dhaka Metro Rail.
The Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway is the first national expressway in Bangladesh. It is operated by the Road Transport and Highways Division. The express will be connected to Asian Highway 1.
Uttara North is an elevated metro station of the Dhaka Metro Rail's MRT Line 6. This station is located in Uttara, a neighbourhood of Dhaka. It was opened on 29 December 2022.
Transport in Dhaka consists of a mixture of cars, buses, rickshaws, motorcycles, and pedestrians, all vying for space in an environment where congestion is a daily challenge. The average traffic speed is less than seven kilometres per hour (4.3 mph), the slowest in the world, and congestion was estimated to cost the economy US$6.5 billion in 2020.
Mirpur 10 is an elevated metro station of the Dhaka Metro's MRT Line 6. This station is located next to Fire Service in Mirpur 10, a neighbourhood of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The station was opened on 1 March 2023.
Agargaon is an elevated metro station of the Dhaka Metro's MRT Line 6. It is located in Agargaon, and was opened on 29 December 2022.
Dhaka Bypass Expressway is a 48 km (30 mi) under construction controlled-access highway located in the division of Dhaka in Bangladesh. The project constitutes a segment of the Asian Highway network. Its principal objective is to alleviate heavy traffic congestion on access roads and highways passing through the city of Dhaka.
Dhaka–Jessore line is a 172 km long under construction broad gauge railway. It is being constructed under the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh. The line will connect the capital of Bangladesh to Jessore via Dhaka District, Narayanganj District, Munshiganj District, Shariatpur District, Madaripur District, Faridpur District, Gopalganj District, Bangladesh, and Narail District. It is a project related to Padma Bridge.
The MRT Line 6 is a rapid transit line of the Dhaka Metro Rail. Despite its number, it is Bangladesh's first rapid transit line and has been in service since 2022. The line is entirely elevated and currently has 16 stations operational in service between Uttara North and Motijheel.
The Bhanga–Kuakata line is a planned railway line in Bangladesh to connect Bhanga with the beach city of Kuakata in Patuakhali. It is planned to build by 2030. It will also connect Barisal Division to the rest of Bangladesh.
The Dhaka Circular Railway is a proposed orbital suburban rail system which is expected to serve Dhaka and Greater Dhaka once completed, and reduce traffic marginally in the city. The project is being considered for investment by South Korea and implemented by Bangladesh Railway.
Narayanganj–Laksam chord line is a proposed 90km-long dual gauge railway. It will be constructed under the Ministry of Railways, Government of Bangladesh. The line will directly connect Dhaka to Chittagong through Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Comilla District.
The MRT Line 2 is Dhaka's proposed rapid transit line. Despite the number, it will be the fifth of the Dhaka Metro Rail system and will be operated by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). It is scheduled to open in 2030.
The MRT Line 4 of Dhaka Metro Rail is a proposed mass rapid transit line, stretching from the city's main railway station to the Bandar Upazila. This line is scheduled to be completed by 2030 and will be operated by the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). South Korea has expressed interest to invest in this project.
Rupdia Railway Station is a railway station under reconstruction on Dhaka–Jessore line located in Jessore Sadar Upazila, Jessore District, Bangladesh. It is one of four railway stations in the district constructed under Padma Bridge Rail Link project.