Completed Development AidData Chinese Aid

China Eximbank provides RMB 1.042 billion government concessional loan for Phase III of Info-Sarker Project (Linked to Record ID#34340)

¥1.04M RMB

Funder	Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank)
Recipient Organization	Government of Bangladesh
Country	Bangladesh
Start Date	Jul 27, 2017
End Date	Nov 23, 2033
Duration	5,963 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`38335`

Grant Description

China Eximbank provides RMB 1.042 billion government concessional loan for Phase III of Info-Sarker Project On July 27, 2017, representatives from the Chinese Embassy and the Government of Bangladesh signed a preferential loan framework agreement regarding the Development of National ICT Infra-Network for Bangladesh Government (Info-Sarker) Phase III.

Then, on October 27, 2017, China Eximbank and the Government of Bangladesh signed an RMB 1,042,830,000 ($156.56 million) government concessional loan (GCL) agreement for Phase III of the Info-Sarker Project.

📋 Loan / Grant Terms

📅 Maturity20 years

⏳ Grace Period5 years

💹 Interest Rate2%

The Government of Bangladesh provided $98.48 million of counterpart financing to support the $255.04 million project.

According to the Government of Bangladesh’s Economic Relations Division (ERD), the GCL had achieved a disbursement rate of 20% (RMB 208,570,000 out of RMB 1,042,830,000) as of June 30, 2018, 91.1% (RMB 950,646,000 out of RMB 1,042,830,000) as of June 30, 2019, 95.8% (RMB 999,134,000 out of RMB 1,042,830,000) as of June 30, 2020, and 96.2% (RMB 1,003,623,000 out of RMB 1,042,830,000) as of June 30, 2021.

No repayments on the GCL had been made as of June 30, 2019 or June 30, 2021.

Phase III of the Info-Sarker Project sought to expand internet coverage by extending the fiber-optic broadband network — more specifically, the 1 Gbps ring-based Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) network — by 19,500 km to 2,600 unions, 488 Upazillas, 64 districts, and 1,000 police stations.

Info-Sarker-Phase 3 is an extension of the government ICT network to the lowest tier of administration i.e. Union from the existing network up to Upazilla (sub-district) through Info-Sarker-3.

Info Sarkar Project under the ICT division (BCC) of the Bangladesh Government is a benchmark initiative of the Bangladesh Government to make digital Bangladesh by connecting all its people, organizations, and resources of all tiers through the Internet. China Railway International Group Company Limited (CRIG) was the contractor responsible for project implementation.

The project was originally scheduled to run from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

However, it ran behind schedule and its expected completion date was eventually pushed backed to June 30, 2021 — and then again to June 30, 2023. The project officially commenced on January 1, 2017. HDPE duct installation activities took place in Sylhet on August 5, 2017. Then, on April 11, 2018, an inauguration ceremony for the connectivity of 60 unions and 6 districts was held.

HDPE duct installation activities took place in Cox's Bazar, Rajshahi, and Moulvibazar on February 8, 2019, March 16, 2019, and May 2, 2019, respectively. The project was ultimately completed on November 22, 2022.

Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, the Director of Phase III of the Info-Sarker Project, predicted that more than 100 million people would ultimately benefit from internet connectivity after the completion of the project. He also predicted that the project would increase national GDP by 1%.

📋 Staff Comments

The Chinese project title is 孟加拉政府基础网络三期项目. The Bangla project title is ইনফো-সরকার ৩য় পর্যায় প্রকল্প.
The Government of Bangladesh loan identification number for this China Eximbank GCL is L1120171027A.
Project ID#34340 captures the China Eximbank loan for Phase II of the Info-Sarker Project.
Key contact: Dr. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Project Director (Joint Secretary), Bangladesh Computer Council, ICT Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and IT; [email protected].

📚 Sources & References

Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of Bangladesh on Deepening the Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation, nformation & Communication Technology Division Medium Term Expenditure
Govt prepares project to reach internet services into rural areas
Development of National Infra Network for Bangladesh Government Phase III
中华人民共和国与孟加拉人民共和国关于深化更加紧密的全面合作伙伴关系的联合声明, 1,200 unions to get high speed internet by 2017
Some inter-governmental projects between China and Bangladesh have not landed in the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
China and Bangladesh discuss commercial contracts on ten infrastructure projects
South-South cooperation – policy and practice by the Export Import Bank of China
BangladeshInfoSarker-3
Chinese Loans Losing Shine
Bangladesh to get $30m by year-end -The Asian Age, $156m Chinese suppliers’ credit agreed
NATIONAL ICT INFRA-NETWORK FOR BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT (INFO-SARKER) PROJECT
Govt expands digitization scheme to empower local admin
Public universities, colleges to get free Wi-Fi coverage, e-Government Master Plan for Digital Bangladesh
Benefits & Impacts of CBVMP, ইনফো-সরকার ৩য় পর্যায় প্রকল্প এর পটভূমি
China-funded Projects: Joint body to probe slow pace
COMMITMENT
DISBURSEMENT AND REPAYMENT OF EXTERNAL (ODA) LOANS (ACTIVE)
Framework Agreement signed
Economic Relations Division September 10, 2017 Press Release
China to finance Bangladesh's mega ICT projects
Project Profile (Updated: 1 September 2020)
Info-Sarker-3
Bangladesh plans to sign new ICT project with China ‘soon’
Fiber optical connectivity to 3,600 unions, police offices, '2,600-union under optical fiber by 2018'
Officials: Bangladesh Has Received Small Fraction in Chinese Loans for Projects
China-funded projects in Bangladesh back on track
Sector Wise Allocation: Annual Develoment Programme of 2021-2022-bd
Bangladesh National Report (II) 2020
项目报告
COMMITMENT
DISBURSEMENT AND REPAYMENT OF EXTERNAL (ODA) LOANS (ACTIVE)
Jointly Building Belt and Road towards SDGs - Bangladesh
Table-7.2 COMMITMENT
DISBURSEMENT AND REPAYMENT OF EXTERNAL (ODA) LOANS (ACTIVE) Up to 30 June 2019
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Info-Sarker Phase 3 Project Bangladesh Computer Council
SDG Cover & Inner Page
Info Sarker-3 project: Govt set to sign deal with China
Chinese money starts to flow in Beijing releases $174.11m for two projects
Request for Application (RFA)
National ICT Infra - Network for Bangladesh Government Phase III( Info - Sarker phase 3 ) Project:
Irregularities in Info Sarker-3 project
孟加拉国政府基础网络三期项目顺利推进
Project details
Info-Government 3rd Phase Project
Bangladesh Annual Report 2019-2020 (1)
中企承建的孟加拉国政府基础网络三期项目竣工
中企承建的孟加拉國政府基礎網絡三期項目竣工
Info-Sarker Phase-3 Project Closing Ceremony
Ambassador Li Jiming Attends the Closing Ceremony of the “Development of National ICT Infra-Network for Bangladesh Government Phase-III (Info-Sarker Phase-3)”
Chinese-built network infrastructure project completed in Bangladesh Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

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Government of Bangladesh

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