India-assisted projects contribute to the economic and social development of Bangladesh
A college building constructed with the Indian government’s grant assistance is the latest example of India’s robust development partnership with neighbouring Bangladesh.
 
The new building of the Kashinagar Degree College in Chauddagram, Cumilla was inaugurated by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday (October 2, 2023). Member of Parliament from Cumilla-11 and former Railway Minister Md. Mujibul Haque was present at the inaugural event.
 
The four-storeyed building has been built with Indian grant financing under India’s High Impact Community Development Project programme (HICDPs) at a cost of 1,75,50,400 BDT, the Indian High Commission said.
 
The Government of India has undertaken 93 such projects across various districts of Bangladesh since the launch of the HICDPs programme in the country. Of these, 76 projects have been completed so far.
 
“Though the primary focus of these HICDPs has been to contribute to the economic and social development and improvement of public welfare, these projects have also helped in generating a large number of local jobs,” the Indian High Commission said.
 
High Commissioner Verma described the project as an example of the strong people-to-people connection between India and Bangladesh which was founded on their shared sacrifices during the Liberation War of 1971. He went on to express satisfaction that the newly-constructed infrastructure had enabled the college to provide quality education to over 800 students in the area, who earlier had to go to the city for college education.
 
Such projects were making an impact on socio-economic development of Bangladesh and reflected the people-oriented nature of development partnership between India and Bangladesh, Verma added.
 
In his address at the inauguration event, High Commissioner Verma noted that Bangladesh was now India’s largest development partner, which was a testimony to the special relationship between the two countries. It was also indicative of the transformative changes that have taken place in the India-Bangladesh partnership over the last decade, he said.