In cooperation with the Research and Evaluation Division of BRAC, Copenhagen Consensus Center organized roundtable discussions with an aim to figure out smarter solutions to the most problematic issues facing Bangladesh.
2. Bangladesh Priorities
WORKING WITH 30-50 economists including Nobel Laureates, 100+
sector experts engaging major development organizations, NGOs,
government, businesses, youths, rural and urban Bangladeshis to
identify, analyze and prioritize interventions that will deliver greater
benefit per taka spent, helping move Bangladesh towards Vision 2021
and a more prosperous long term future.
3. In cooperation with the Research
and Evaluation Division of BRAC,
Copenhagen Consensus Center
organized roundtable discussions
with an aim to figure out smarter
solutions to the most problematic
issues facing Bangladesh.
These roundtables are
one of several sources
for research ideas.
Sourcing ideas and solutions
Smarter solutions for Bangladesh
Complete set of papers
on 30-50 solutions
PRIORITIZATION
Government NGOs
Academia Pvt sector
Think tanks
Development
organizations
Eminent Panel
Assessment
Government and
donor seminars
Rural polls
Newspaper polls
among readers
Youth forums
across the country
Private sector
meetings
Social, economic and
environmental benefit-cost
research by top Bangladeshi,
and international economists
Extensive peer review by sector
experts and academics
100+ ideas on
policies & investments
20162015 Continuous
engagement with
the public via
electronic, print
and social media
Working with
civil society,
government and
sector experts
Widely
advocating
results of
prioritization
exercises
OUTREACH
5. Infrastructure: Energy;
(1 of 7)
• Adopt and implement the Coal Policy on an urgent
basis.
• Increase public investment in electricity.
• Encourage private power supply.
• Improving power sector efficiency by minimizing
transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.
• Decrease cost of electricity production.
• Substitution of coal for gas as the primary fuel for
generating electricity.
• Reliance on gas and liquid fuel until FY2018.
• Shift from domestic gas and imported liquid fuel to
imported coal and LNG after FY2018.
6. Infrastructure: Energy;
(2 of 7)
• Increase reliance on IPPs based on large and efficient
power supply.
• Accelerate the implementation of scalable power
generation through renewable energy (mainly wind and
solar power).
• Leverage potential of wind energy mainly in the coastal
areas and offshore islands.
• Regional energy sharing: Expand trade with India and
explore hydro-power import opportunities with Nepal
and Bhutan.
• Maintain proper coordination of investment in T&D.
• Expansion/up-gradation of 90,000 km electric
distribution line by BREB.
7. Infrastructure: Energy;
(3 of 7)
• Construction/Up-gradation of 385 sub-stations in rural
areas by BREB.
• New consumer connection - 4 million rural customers.
• Electrification of 4,000 villages by BREB.
• Replacement of 5 million digital meters by pre-paid
meter in rural areas.
• Expansion of electric distribution line - 1250 Km by
DESCO and 2591 km by WZDC.
• Construction/Modernization of sub-station in urban
areas.
• New consumer connection - 426,000 by DESCO.
8. Infrastructure: Energy;
(4 of 7)
• New Pre-paid meter - DESCO 1050,000 and WZDC
804,956.
• Reduce system loss - 9% (DESCO) and 9.5% (WZDC).
• Adoption and implementation of a proper O&M strategy
[presently, 22% loss with 2,200 MW).
• Upgrading the “dead simple-cycle gas power plants” as
combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT).
• Consider turn-key type investments to reduce IPP
procurement problems.
• Implement a demand side management (DSM) policy to
reduce peak capacity use by 440 MW.
• Design and implement a gas allocation policy.
9. Infrastructure: Energy;
(5 of 7)
• Prioritize LPG usage in domestic and CNG (mini cab)
sectors.
• Minimize difference between LPG and pipelined gas
tariffs.
• Consider biogas as the alternative of pipeline natural
gas.
• Investment for on-shore exploration.
• Strike joint venture or “Strategic Partnership” between
BAPEX and IOCs.
• Use of coal as coking coal.
• Export Barapukuria coal as coking coal or steam coal.
10. Infrastructure: Energy;
(6 of 7)
• Pursue LNG import with Qatar and Australia.
• Design and implement the coal center with the capacity
of 12 million ton in Matarbari area.
• Substitution of low thermal efficient gas-fired power
plants with more energy efficient plants.
• Incentives for adoption of improved fuel use.
• Promote use of energy conservation technology in
industry.
• Conserving gas consumption by households through
proper metering and pricing policy based on usage.
• Design financial incentives and regulatory schemes for
improved cooking stove.
11. Infrastructure: Energy;
(7 of 7)
• Target energy subsidy in high priority sectors that
maintains budgetary discipline.
• Capping the level of subsidy for primary energy at 1
percent of GDP.
• Proper coordination of investment in transmission and
distribution.
• Ensure efficient O&M in running power plants.
• Scaling up production and usage of renewable energy
sources through government support and subsidies.
• Making solar panels more affordable for rural
households.
12. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(1 of 8)
• Construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge by 2018.
• Construction of energy efficient buildings.
• Relocation of all markets, shopping malls, restaurant,
and school at least 500 meters away from main roads.
• Extension of railway communication among big cities.
• Building feeder road alongside the main road for
parking buses.
• Building flyovers in intersections.
• Ensuring super elevation where the road is curved.
• Removing illegal establishment i.e. hat-bazar alongside
the main roads.
13. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(2 of 8)
• Building road divider in risky zones to mitigate road
accidents.
• Easily accessible public transport system.
• Establishment of a national driving training institute.
• Continue to repair, maintain, improve and expand
existing roads on a priority basis.
• Construction of a tunnel underneath the Karnaphuli
river in Chittagong.
• Conversion of important highways into four lanes
starting with Dhaka-Chittagong.
• Continuation of investment to modernize railway.
14. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(3 of 8)
• Construction of circular rail road track around Dhaka
city.
• Construction of the 3rd Sea port at Payra in Patuakhali.
• Construction of a sea port and an LNG terminal at
Moheshkhali.
• Strengthen fleet capacity in making Biman a profitable
organization.
• Strict axle load control policy to reduce road damages
caused by overloading.
• Adopt policies for strict roadside land use development
and right of way (r.o.w) control.
• Shift from bituminous pavement to concrete pavement.
15. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(4 of 8)
• Developing coastal embankment/polder infrastructures.
• Implement the MRT Line-6 project from Uttara to
Motijheel.
• Construct a fly-over starting from Shantinagar crossing
over the Buriganga.
• Development of an elevated rail-based mass transit
(MRT) system in Dhaka.
• Introduce bus rapid transit (BRT).
• Giving autonomy to urban development authorities
(UDA) for coordinated development of metropolitan
cities and urban areas.
• Reclaim footpath from street vendors.
16. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(5 of 8)
• Develop adequate pedestrian friendly walking and
crossing infrastructures.
• Undertake double tracking of all major railway corridors
by phases - Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-
Khulna, and Dhaka-Parbatipur.
• Strengthening Trans-Asian railway connectivity.
• Railway modernization to an Electric Traction System
(ETS) - Chittagong Port to the hinterland.
• Connect large EPZ/SEZ mouth ICDs through container
transport railway infrastructure.
• Implementing the STP (Strategic Transport Plan 2004-
2024) and DHUTS (Dhaka Urban Transport Studies
2010-2050).
17. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(6 of 8)
• Revamp the Dhaka-Sylhet railway communication.
• Establishing a container terminal either at Shayestagonj
or Srimangal.
• Construct in phases the Dhaka-Mongla and
Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar rail lines.
• Enable railway transfer of coal from Matarbari to the
coal-fire based power stations.
• Maintenance of navigable waterways through regular
dredging.
• Facilitating flow of passenger and cargo by
development of inland river ports.
• Develop inland container river port for transportation of
containers by waterways to/from two sea-ports.
18. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(7 of 8)
• Introduce mechanical equipment for handling cargo.
• Develop rural launch landing stations providing
pontoon facilities.
• Digitize all the services provided by BIWTA introducing
web based data base application.
• Restoration of the Buriganga and waterways around
Dhaka city.
• Reducing port induced semi-trailer truck traffic by
developing intermodal rail and river connectivity.
• Enhancing container storage port yard facilities at
Karnaphuli.
• Increasing container handling capacity through
expansion of terminal/yard facilities.
19. Infrastructure: Transportation;
(8 of 8)
• Accelerate use of Mongla Port facility.
• Construct a deep seaport in Sonadia of Cox’s Bazar.
• Set up coal transshipment terminal at the Matarbari
port.
• Expansion of operational and passenger facilities of
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
• Development of Cox’s Bazar Airport into international
airport.
• Enhancement of Cargo aircraft parking facilities at Shah
Amanat International airport (SAIA).
• Construction of a new airport at Southern region.
• Emphasis on operations and maintenance (O&M)
spending.
20. Full List of Attendees and
Interviewees
Zubair K M Sadeque, Senior Energy Finance Specialist,
South Asia Sustainable Development, World Bank
Mustafizur Haque Chowdhury, Chief Engineer, Rural
Electrification Board of Bangladesh.
Mohammed Abdul Khalekh, Project director, Rural
Electrification Board of Bangladesh.
Richard Lorenz, Senior Infrastructure Adviser, UNPOS.
Sharif Md. Rezaul Karim Assistant Director
(Estate), Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Mohammad Amimul Ehsan, Sub-Divisional Engineer,
Roads and Highways Department, Ministry of Roads,
Transport and Bridges.
Md. Shahin, Sub-Assistant Engineer, Ministry of Road,
Transport and Bridges, Eng.
Md. Masud Alam, Deputy Director, Bangladesh Road
and Transport Authority.
Md. Moshiar Rahman, Additional Secretary, Director
(Administration), BRTA, Ministry of Road and
Transport and Bridges.
Md. Shahidul Islam, Assistant Director (Eng.), BRTA
Chatta Metro Circle-2.
