The ERD sent a letter to the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka last year, including a list of 11 projects that the government gives priority to. However, the letter did not mention anything regarding the remaining six projects.
The priority projects include procurement of four seagoing vessels for Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), holistic management and reclamation of Teesta River, establishment of an economic zone at Anwara in Chattogram, upgradation of the Akhaura-Sylhet rail track, establishment of Digital connectivity, and water supply to municipalities.
The ERD sought $5.02 billion from China for 11 projects, but none of them have started yet.
Another reason behind the slow pace of China-funded projects is the new process of contractor appointment. Since independence, officials used to appoint a contractor in Chinese-funded projects on the basis of direct recommendations from China without any tender.
But ERD introduced a new policy in 2017 and changed the direct appointment system, leaving no way for additional income from the contractor appointment process.
The new policy states that contractors will be appointed through limited tender method (LTM), in which only Chinese contractors will participate. China-funded projects lost momentum after the introduction of the policy.