The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide US 157 million dollar loan for the proposed Dhaka Power System Upgrade Project.

The agreement was reached yesterday during a meeting at ADB headquarters in Manila.

The objective of the project includes enabling evacuation and economic utilisation of power generated from the Build, Own. Operate (BOO) and Build. Own. Transfer (BOT) projects now being contracted — particularly at Haripur and Meghna-ghat. says a press release yesterday.

Besides, the project aims at reducing losses and improving reliability of the existing transmission and distribution system in the greater Dhaka area: and to initiate preparatory works for a training and management development institute in Rural Electrification Board (REB).

The project is designed to promote economic growth by ensuring reliability of power supply and by increasing access to electric supply in the greater Dhaka area, including rural areas supplied by the Pally Biddut Samities (PBSs) from DESA.

Bangladesh's contribution to the 300 million dollar project will be approximately USD 143 million.

At the meeting, the Bangladesh team was led by Secretary-in-charge of Power Division GM

Mandal. Other members were Chairman of BPDB QI Siddique. Chairman of DESA Shar-fuzzaman Bhuiyan. ERD Joint Secretary Shaflqul Islam and Director of Power Grid Com-Bany of Bangladesh Limited 'echnlcal) NG Saha.