Photo:Crec Padma Bridge Rail Link is the largest one among all the ongoing projects of Bangladesh Railway. Under this project, 170 kilometers of new rail line are being constructed. China Railway Group Limited (CREC) is implementing the project. In addition to building infrastructure and rail line, CREC is also involved in some philanthropic endeavors. For instance, during the pandemic, the project donated epidemic prevention materials to multiple villages along the rail line, Bangladeshi hospitals, the military, and police stations. The project has donated epidemic prevention materials worth approximately 980,000 RMB and various branches of the project have donated materials worth about 1.33 million RMB, totaling roughly 2.31 million RMB. This reflects the corporate social responsibility of CREC at the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
Every year, they conduct educational support activities, donate books and stationery, and care for the children of Bangladeshi employees, among various charitable activities.
In response to the annual rainy season in Bangladesh, which occurs from June to September and leads to road damage and severe erosion due to heavy rainfall, making it unsafe for residents and vehicles to travel, immediate action was taken. Personnel, machinery, and materials were organized to fill and compact the collapsed areas and low-lying road sections, ensuring safe and smooth transportation for the residents. In late June 2022, Bangladesh suffered the most severe flooding in 20 years due to continuous heavy rains. The rainfall and floods led to the complete or partial destruction of approximately 40,000 houses in the low-lying areas of the northeastern city of Sylhet, leaving 4.5 million people trapped or homeless. Upon assessing the problem, CREC swiftly responded, cooperating with the Bangladesh Railway and the project's supervisory team, to provide disaster relief donations. They have donated 1,750 kilograms of rice, 450 kilograms of cooking oil, 720 kilograms of flour, 700 kilograms of sugar, and other food items. This provided warmth and hope to the local flood victims in Sylhet.
Until now, the CREC has helped construct over 20 kilometers of local pathways, built a steel truss bridge that is over 100 meters long, and invested 303,000 USD in long-term maintenance for the N805 road. And, they spent a total of 10 million Bangladeshi Taka to dig more than 200 wells for residents.
Aside from the above, the CREC built up the "China-Bangladesh Youth Employment Program," which primarily receives funding from the project costs, contributions from outstanding subcontracting companies of CREC, and support from celebrity Bangladeshi enterprises. This program will create numerous job opportunities for Bangladeshi youth, around 7,000 jobs, contributing to the "Belt and Road" Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Empowerment Project. As of August 31, 2023, some 491 Bangladeshi management personnel (including four Bangladeshi students who studied in China) and 5,418 laborers have been hired through self-recruitment and recommendations from intermediary companies. Business training has been provided to 4,760 individuals, 462 individuals have undergone skills assessment, 320 individuals have competed for jobs, and 4,760 individuals have participated in labor competitions, completing various tasks of the program's first phase.
