Bangladesh and China Discuss Energy and Housing Investments in Dhaka

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives held a formal meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, at the Secretariat in Dhaka on August 27, 2027. During the high-level diplomatic and administrative discussions, both sides explored potential Chinese investments across several critical urban infrastructure sectors, including solar power generation, waste-to-energy conversion, and modern housing construction for low-income communities living in city slums.

Highlighting ongoing urban energy initiatives, Mir Shahe Alam detailed progress on waste-to-energy projects. The Chinese company CMEC has already commenced work on the waste-to-energy initiative in Dhaka North City Corporation, while a separate formal contract has been executed for a similar project in Aminবাজার. Furthermore, the Daserkandi project currently operates at only 30 percent capacity. To complete the remaining 70 percent of the work and make the facility fully operational, the government has submitted a project proposal worth approximately Tk 1,000 crore to the Planning Commission, with China considering financing this through loans or grants.

Elaborating on the power generation targets and financial parameters, officials noted that the waste-to-energy initiatives hold the potential to generate approximately 40 to 50 megawatts of electricity daily. Authorities have set a definitive target to supply 42 megawatts of electricity to the national grid within the next year and a half. Under the current framework, the electricity produced from these municipal waste-to-energy projects is priced at approximately Tk 21.70 per kilowatt-hour, or unit.

In addition to municipal waste and power generation, the discussions extended significantly into urban social housing and slum redevelopment. Bangladesh officially sought Chinese investment to construct modern housing facilities across three major informal settlements located within the capital's Gulshan and Dhaka-17 parliamentary constituency areas: Korail, Sattola, and Bhashantek. The comprehensive proposal involves an estimated investment of nearly Tk 10,000 crore, featuring detailed architectural plans to construct 20-story residential buildings.

The strategic meeting brought together key administrative figures and diplomatic representatives to accelerate infrastructural development. Alongside Mir Shahe Alam and Ambassador Yao Wen, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan participated in the deliberations. The collaborative efforts also involve multiple domestic and international entities, including the Economic Relations Division (ERD), PowerChina, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, working alongside the Ministry of Local Government and the Chinese Embassy.