Emerging Bridge Construction Industry of Bangladesh: Promise and Prosperity

Bangladesh is a least developed country which is trying to become a middle-income country by 2021. No doubt infrastructure like road network would play a vital role in ist economic development. Before the independence in 1971, small span bridges were constructed by the local engineering firms and the long span bridges were built by the foreign engineering firms since they were technologically advanced. Even after the independence most of the large bridges were also constructed by the foreign engineering firms; however, the scenario is gradually changing after the inauguration of Bangabondhu Multipurpose Bridge. Local engineering construction companies started to build box girder bridges of long span, deep water foundation and lowering pile cap at river bed level, etc. These firms are consistently demonstrating their improved capability more confidently. Although foreign engineering companies are still working in Bangladesh but they are working in collaboration with the local engineering firms, which is a clear indication of the capacity development of those local counter parts. This study would high light the gradual improvement of the competency in building complex construction works in Bangladesh and the correspondent impacts over the economic development.