GANABHABAN, 15 March, 2021 (TON): PM Hasina launched “Bangladesh Infrastructure Development Fund” to finance infrastructure projects via a video conferencing on Monday.

Dredging of a channel for the Payra port in southern Bangladesh is the first project to be financed through BIDF.

A three-way loan agreement was signed for the project in Dhaka.

PM Hasina said, “As a developing country, we will have to finance our own projects. We will develop our country. That is our goal. And a lot of work needs to be done to accomplish that.” “We were thinking about how we can spend the money from the reserves on development. Rather than begging for loans from others repeatedly, we can finance our infrastructural development ourselves. We could redirect our efforts to spend our own money rather than trying to borrow money from them,” she said.

“This will benefit the country while boosting our confidence, deliver us self-esteem, and we will be able to show the world that we are capable too,” she added.

Drawing attention to funding the Payra port project, she said, “We also have to build the deep-sea port. We have already reopened the Mongla port, which was suspended during the BNP’s rule. Besides, another port in Matarbari is complete,” she further added.

However, as PM Hasina highlighted Bangladesh’s convenient geographical location allowing India, Nepal, and Bhutan to use its ports and will give many other countries a chance to use the country's ports in the future.