In Bangladesh, the poverty rate in rural areas, including Cox’s Bazar District, remains high compared to the poverty rate in urban areas where the economy is growing steadily, and rural development is an important policy issue for the Bangladesh government. In the southern Chotgram region, including Cox’s Bazar District, the Japanese government is planning comprehensive development projects, including key infrastructure projects such as the Matabari Port Development Project (yen loan), based on the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Zone Initiative. Cox’s Bazar is expected to become a growth driver in Bangladesh in the future. However, there are strong concerns that the population influx expected to accompany the development in Cox’s Bazar District and the surrounding areas will cause problems that will be exacerbated by the lack of basic infrastructure, such as deteriorating road conditions and traffic congestion due to an increase in the number of vehicles passing through the area, and deteriorating social services to residents due to water treatment and supply shortages and an increase in waste. In addition, in Cox’s Bazar Province, which borders Myanmar, the impact of the influx of displaced people from Rakhine State, Myanmar, is becoming apparent.
This cooperation will improve the convenience and quality of life of local residents in the Southern Chotgram region by developing basic infrastructure, etc., thereby contributing to economic growth and correcting disparities in the target region.
© Source JICA