As of June 2021, Bangladesh has received more than US$27 billion in financial aid from Japan. After Japan and Bangladesh signed an agreement to build Dhaka's first underground subway project, Mass Rapid Transit Line 1, Bangladesh will receive a loan of US$1.1 billion from Japan. This financial aid is part of a US$2.66 billion loan that will also support the development of the Matabari power plant and accelerate the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the 42nd official development assistance (ODA) package, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide the second batch of loans for the subway project.

Japan had earlier bid nearly US$500 million for the MRT Line 1, which will extend nearly 31.2 kilometers with two routes. The first 19.8-kilometer route will be from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kamalapur Railway Station. This airport route is said to be the country's first underground railway line and will have 12 stations. The second route will connect NotunBazar and Pitalganj, with a total length of 11.3 kilometers. The Purbachal route will be elevated and will include nine stations. At the same time, Norton Bazar Station will be connected to the Northern Line of Metro Line 5, which runs from Hemaytpur to Ouattara. Both lines have completed comprehensive research, survey and basic design.

The detailed design work of the project is currently in progress. The total cost of the project is estimated at 6 billion U.S. dollars (525 billion baht), and the project is expected to be completed in December 2026. Editor/Xu Shengpeng