DHAKA, Jan 27, 2025 (BSS) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB); Posts and Telecommunications Division (PTD) under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology; Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL); and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) of Bangladesh have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for developing Bangladesh's first green data centre under a public-private partnership (PPP) model through international competitive bidding.

A K M Abul Kalam Azad, PPPA Director General (finance and administration); Md. Anwar Hossain, BTCL Managing Director; Abul Khair Mohammad Salehuddun, PTD Additional Secretary and Hoe Yun Jeong, ADB Country Director, signed the MOU on behalf of their respective organizations at a ceremony at Conference Room of PPPA in Dhaka yesterday.

Md Mushfiqur Rahman, Secretary, Posts and Telecommunication Secretary; Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, PPPA Chief Executive Officer and Secretary; and Takeo Konishi, ADB Director General for South Asia were also present at the signing ceremony, said an ADB press release today.

The state-of-the-art data centre will be located at a BTCL-owned site near Chattogram. 

The data centre will adhere to international standards, ensuring maximum availability and operational scalability to meet future demands. 

Powered by renewable energy, the centre will offer commercial colocation services to public and private sector enterprises and fulfill BTCL's internal data storage needs.

"This initiative marks a significant step toward achieving Bangladesh's digital vision, integrating cutting-edge technology and sustainable practices to support the country's digital transformation," said Hoe Yun Jeong, Country Director for ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission.

"The project will promote private investment in the InfoTech sector, opening doors for increased capital mobilization in digital technologies." added Jeong.

A transaction advisory services (TAS) agreement will be signed soon to implement the data center project under a PPP model. 

ADB's TAS support will focus on feasibility assessment, structuring and tendering of the pioneering PPP project, capacity building of stakeholders, and catalyzing an enabling environment conducive to private investment in the IT sector. 

The project highlights ADB's commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth and supporting the expansion of cutting-edge digital infrastructure in Bangladesh. 

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members-49 from the region.