Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much-anticipated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River on Saturday (28 October).
She paid the toll and became the first passenger on the tunnel.
Earlier, she unveiled a plaque on the west bank of river Karnaphuli at Patenga and after crossing the tunnel, she will unwrap another plaque on the south bank of the river at Anwara at 11am.
The nearly 10km-long tunnel, including approach road, constructed beneath river Karnaphuli between Patenga and Anwara upazila which was built at a cost of Taka 10,374 crore will be opened to vehicles from 6am on Monday (30 October).
It would connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway by reducing the distance by 40km.
She will also open and lay the foundation stones of some projects in Chattogram on the occasion.
The premier will also release a special commemorative postage stamp, opening day envelope and a special seal marking the inauguration of the first-ever underwater road tunnel.
Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League president, will address a public rally on Korean EPZ (KEPZ) ground at Anwara today as a huge number of people including leaders and workers of the ruling Awami League and associate bodies are expected to attend it.
AL's Chattogram south district unit is organizing the rally as a festive atmosphere is prevailing all over the district for the gala occasion.
"All preparations are at the final stage as Chattogram as well as the entire country is eagerly waiting for the grand inauguration of the much-awaited Bangabandhu tunnel," Chattogram South District AL president Motaherul Islam Chowdhury told BSS.
He said a large boat shaped stage are being erected in the venue as Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader will also be on the dais with Mothaherul Islam Chowdhury in the chair.
Chowdhury said all-out preparations have been taken to facilitate participants of the rally as sanitations and sufficient water supply will be ensured at the venue and separate arrangements for smooth participation of the females as well.
"Our public rally will be turned into a vast human sea with the participation of nearly a million of people," he expected.
He said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel is a matter of pride not only for Chattogram but for the entire nation.
Its 'dream comes true' for millions especially for the residents of commercial capital and port city as the much-anticipated multilane underwater expressway tunnel, first of its kind in South Asia, constructed beneath the river Karnaphuli, a major watercourse of this region, will be inaugurated today.
In a press briefing on Thursday in Dhaka, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said 17,260 vehicles would be able to use the tunnel on a daily basis equating to some 7.6 million vehicles a year.
The tunnel would help increase the country's annual GDP growth by 0.166pc, he added.
"The tunnel will also cut the distance among Chattogram city, the seaport and the airport as it will play a crucial role in making the economy more vibrant," Quader said.
Talking to BSS, Md. Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, director of the mega project, said the tunnel is expected to elevate Bangladesh into a new level of prominence in the world, as it is also the region's first ever under river road tunnel.
It will turn Chattogram into "one city with two towns" like Chinese city of Shanghai as it will expand the periphery of the city with boosting economy and opening new doors of immense potentials for industrialization, tourism and expansion of trade and commerce and developing road connectivity in the entire region.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Mahbubul Alam said Bangladesh is going to enter the era of underwater road tunnel which is of course a pride for the entire nation as well it will facilitate the business community hugely.
The tunnel would boost industrialization in the region as two export processing zones in Chattogram-KEPZ in Anwara and Chattogram EPZ in Halishahar- and Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) in Anwara will be highly facilitated by the tunnel, he said.
Alam said it would connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway by reducing distance by 40km and it will also facilitate the ongoing and planned power and energy hub in Cox's Bazar, which is already a tourist hub of the country.
Thus it will have significant contributions to the country's GDP like Padma Bridge, the FBCCI president said.
Apart from the tunnel, he said, if a Dhaka-Chattogram expressway can be built and a master plan is taken to boost a planned industrialization on the bank of river Karnaphuli to turn it as a Smart city, it will be highly beneficial for country's economy as well as it can boost Bangladesh's connectivity with 'seven sisters' of India including Mizoram and Manipur expanding trade and business as well as tourism in the region.
As per the project details, the length of the entire route is 9.39 kilometers (5.83 mi), with the tunnel making up 3.32 kilometers (2.06 mi) of the length while it's diameter is 10.80 meters (35.4 ft).
It has been built at a cost of Taka 10,374 crore and of which around half is financed by the Exim Bank of China.
It will improve the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway network. A Chinese company, China Communications Construction Company, constructed it.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the construction site of the Karnaphuli Tunnel on October 14, 2017.
On 24 February 2019, Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated the tunnel boring phase.
The multilane tunnel route passes through the river close to Navy College on one side and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company (KAFCO) on the other.
It will also ease traffic congestion on two bridges over the Karnaphuli River.
Chattogram deputy commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakruzzaman said the tunnel will expedite the county's economy and regional trade and commerce by turning Chattogram into one city with two towns.
A three-layer security measures will be ensured at the venue for the inauguration of the tunnel, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much-anticipated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River on Saturday (28 October). She paid the toll and became the first passenger on the tunnel. Earlier, she unveiled a plaque on the west bank of river...
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As the term of the government nears its end, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved 37 development projects worth Tk52,612 crore on Tuesday, the second highest number in the last five years and three times higher than usual.
A record 46 projects were presented for approval at the meeting. But nine of them did not get the green light due to time constraints. They will be presented again at the next Ecnec meeting, as journalists were briefed.
Normally, each Ecnec meeting approves 10-15 projects, but stakeholders have expressed concerns that too many projects are getting approval "without proper vetting" ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Prior to the 2018 elections, over 40 projects were presented at each Ecnec meeting, but a maximum of 38 projects were approved during a single meeting.
At the post-Ecnec press conference, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the current government approved the projects for development purposes and not as election strategies.
Planning Division Secretary Satyajit Karmaker mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who presided over the Ecnec meeting, emphasised that in the last 14-15 years, no project has received approval with just a simple checkmark. She highlighted that the country has seen significant development because the projects undergo thorough review before approval.
At the press conference, State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam said there was a backlog of projects because the last Ecnec meeting was nearly two months ago.
At the time, the planning minister mentioned that the prime minister had ordered the quick completion of projects that are in the final stages of implementation and projects that are dependent on foreign loans.
"This is not about the election," he quoted the prime minister as saying at the meeting. "If a project can be completed quickly, the benefits will come quickly. Additionally, if a foreign loan project can be processed quickly, we will obtain the benefits of the project and some foreign currency."
The prime minister has once again ordered the creation of a dedicated fund for the maintenance of all roads.
The planning minister noted that the current government has built many roads but acknowledged that these roads often deteriorate quickly due to heavy rainfall.
"Rapid economic growth has also led to increased traffic, exceeding the capacity of roads and contributing to their deterioration," he added. "As a result, we face challenges in road maintenance."
In response to this situation, the prime minister suggested moving beyond the current maintenance approach and establishing a fund for the upkeep of national highways through toll collection.
"This approach will enable more effective road maintenance. The Road Transport and Highways Division, as well as the Bridges Division, are actively working on toll collection for specific roads and bridges," he said.
The projects received Ecnec approval on Tuesday, including the Tk8,556 crore Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway Improvement Project. The Japanese government will provide a loan of Tk5,709 crore for the project.
Ecnec also approved three gas-meter installation projects at a cost of Tk6437.54 crore.
Two projects, with a total value of Tk3,738 crore, have been approved for the production of essential vaccines in the country and the establishment of Essential Biotech and Research Centres. The ADB will provide a loan of Tk3,241 crore for these projects. These initiatives are expected to decrease import dependency and open avenues for vaccine exports.
Among other notable projects that have received approval are: Upgradation of Karnaphuli Tunnel Link Road with Anwara Upazila Link Road to 4-lane; Expansion and Modernisation of Amin Bazar Landfill; Jamuna River Sustainable Management Project-1 (Navigational Channel Development); Bridge constructions on the Meghna-Dhanagoda River for the Matlab North-Gazaria Road; construction of the Bogura-Rangpur-Syedpur gas transmission pipeline; and installation of offsite water supply facilities at Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
The planning minister said projects were approved for development purposes and not as election strategies
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is inaugurating the 100-kilometre Dohazari to Cox's Bazar railway line today, establishing the first rail link to Bangladesh's southeast coast, Cox's Bazar, which will usher in a new age of trade and connectivity for the region.
Upon the opening of the iconic oyster-shaped railway station in Hajipara of Jhelongja union of Cox's Bazar, an official rail link will be established with the coastal town for the first time ever.
The railway line is part of the government's ambitious plans to develop the region and attract investment. The new rail line will reduce travel time between Cox's Bazar and other parts of the country, making it easier and more affordable for tourists and businesses to visit the region, say stakeholders.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, is scheduled to inaugurate 15 projects and lay the foundation stones of four other projects including a 14.3km channel of the Matarbari deep-sea port.
According to the notification of the deputy commissioner, on this day, the prime minister will inaugurate 15 projects including railways and lay the foundation stones of four projects worth about Tk88,000 crore.
She is supposed to address a rally at 2:30pm in Moheshkhali's Matarbari. To welcome the PM, major strategic points of Cox's Bazar town and two sides of the roads are now adorned with banners, festoons, and billboards.
Stringent measures have been taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security.
Cox's Bazar District Awami League general secretary, Mujibur Rahman, said they have made all necessary preparations to make this event successful.
New era begins
The railway line constructed at a cost of more than Tk18,000 crore will transform the economic landscape of the region, bringing radical changes to the business, industry, and tourism sectors.
Some 77 projects, including 25 mega projects, are currently underway in Cox's Bazar, with a total investment of Tk3 lakh crore.
Stakeholders say Cox's Bazar and Chattogram are emerging as the business hubs of South Asia, thanks to investments in railways, logistics, connectivity, and roads. The possibility of land transit with India through Chattogram and Ramgarh land port, a railway line with China through Myanmar, and land transit with South Asian countries will be created.
The region has already become an attractive destination for investors from various countries, including Japan, China, and India.
Abu Morshed Chowdhury, president of the Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told The Business Standard, "This rail link will be beneficial for various industries, including fish, salt, dry fruits, and vegetables. Economic activities will increase in the upazilas that have nine stations."
Matarbari deep-sea port: Key economic game changer
Construction of the Matarbari deep-sea port, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), began in 2016.
Stakeholders say the deep-sea port will be a game changer for the Bangladesh economy. It is expected to start loading mother vessels in 2026.
The Matarbari deep-sea port, which is modelled after Japan's Kashima port, will play a vital role in South Asian trade with ASEAN countries.
Currently, most of Bangladesh's imported goods arrive at Singapore, Colombo, Hong Kong, or Malaysia by mother vessels, as the Chattogram port can only accommodate ships with a draft of up to 10 metres. Feeder vessels then transport the goods to Chattogram.
Once the Matarbari deep-sea port is completed, any ship in the world will be able to dock there, including ships with a length of 350 metres and a draft of 18 metres, said Chattogram Port Authority's chief hydrographer M Arifur Rahman.
Lighter vessels will then transport goods from Matarbari to the Chattogram port and the Bay Terminal, reducing time and cost and speeding up transportation.
Chattogram Port Authority Secretary Md Omar Farooq said that the Matarbari deep-sea port will be a transit port like the Port Kelang, Singapore and other ports. New routes will be launched with various ports of the world including Europe and the USA.
Rail line, airport to boost tourism in Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar will now be accessible by rail from Dhaka and Chattogram at half the cost of a bus ride. The government's development projects in Cox's Bazar and Teknaf will further boost rail tourism. Around 60-70 lakh tourists, mostly domestic, visit Cox's Bazar annually.
The government is developing Sabrang in Teknaf, Naf and Sonadia Island in Maheshkhali, and the country's first island-based tourism economic zone to attract foreign tourists.
The Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (Beza) has signed a land lease agreement with Singapore-based Inter Asia Group to establish the Sabrang Tourism Park.
Cox's Bazar International Airport will allow tourists, traders, and investors from around the world to fly directly to and from Cox's Bazar. The runway is being extended by 1,700 feet over the sea to meet international standards. Once completed, the airport will be able to accommodate all types of international flights and aircraft.
Dev projects centering the Bay of Bengal
Arrays of development projects are underway across the vast area along the Bay of Bengal, apart from Cox's Bazar district.
The country's largest industrial city is being built on 30,000 acres of land at Sonagazi in Feni, and Mirsarai-Sitakunda in Chattogram. Recently, the government has opened the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel built under the Karnaphuli River for vehicle movement.
Construction of the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) covering an area of 778 acres is underway at Anwara. A 1,320 MW coal-based power plant jointly owned by S Alam Group and China's SEPCO-3 has been set up in the Gandamra area of Banskhali near the Bay of Bengal.
Economist and former Chittagong University professor Dr Moinul Islam said the port, energy, and communication sector projects from Mirsrai on the Bay of Bengal to Cox's Bazar will have a far-reaching impact on the country's economy.
Khairul Alam Sujan, vice president of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarder Association, said the infrastructural landscape of the southern region of Chattogram has started to be transformed due to the development projects.
The railway line is part of the government’s ambitious plans to develop the region and attract investment. The new rail line will reduce travel time between Cox’s Bazar and other parts of the country, making it easier and more affordable for tourists and businesses to visit the region, say...
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The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) is working on a highway master plan to interlink the country's road network by 12 expressway routes to establish an extensive internal and cross-border connectivity.
The construction of these expressways will require a total investment of Tk1.91 lakh crore ($17.28 billion), covering a significant expansion of 1,508km of roads with expected implementation by 2041.
Syed Moinul Hasan, RHD's chief engineer, said the master plan aims to integrate all highways in the country into a unified network, which goes beyond the conventional road network.
The Asian Development Bank has drafted the "Highway Master Plan 2041" for the RHD, and a strategy paper for implementation will be formulated once the draft plan is approved in the first half of next year, an official of the department said, requesting anonymity.
The 12-expressway plan, spanning 10-12 years, necessitates an annual funding of $1.5 billion, the official said, adding that the government will prioritise public-private partnership (PPP) for construction.
The Finance Division and the Economic Relations Division will decide on the financing issues, the RHD executive added.
Earlier, several initiatives to build expressways on the Dhaka-Chattagram route did not progress due to cost concerns and prospect of a high-speed train line.
Rather, the authorities opted for a traditional road widening project and upgraded the country's most important trade route into a four-lane highway.
The Dhaka-Bhanga expressway is the country's lone access-control expressway that links the capital with the southwestern regions over the Padma Bridge.
Experts say neighbouring countries executed similar highway master plans in the 80s/90s. While constructing expressways may now pose challenges for Bangladesh, it is essential for continual progress and sustainable development, they say.
The proposed expressways
The expressways that have been given importance in the Highway Master Plan 2041 include Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Chattogram (elevated), Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka Outer Ring Road, Dhaka-Bogura, Mirsharai-Cox's Bazar (via Bangabandhu Tunnel), Mymensingh-Bogura, Gabtoli to Paturia (upgrading the existing one) to Kazirhat, Feni-Barishal, Paturia-Daulatadia, and Jhenaidah-Khushtia-Dasuria.
Dr Mohammad Yunus, research director at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), told TBS that to become a developed country, Bangladesh needs to bring infrastructural changes.
"Every country has a master plan for infrastructure development. The highway master plan will be implemented on a priority basis in the long term. As a result, financing will not create much pressure," he said.
He said, in the current economic situation, big projects cannot be taken up now. "We have to wait for the situation to improve. But the master plan should be done now, so that projects can be implemented on priority basis as soon as funds are available."
Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, a member of the Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission, stressed the need for integrated master plans covering road, rail, rural roads, and waterways within the broader spectrum of communication infrastructure.
"The Planning Commission is actively considering the formulation of an Integrated Communication Masterplan," he added.
Md Shamsul Hoque, a communication expert and professor at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), welcomed the plan for its departure from traditional highway construction.
He expressed, "Relying on outdated thinking, we've been expanding roads to 8/10 lanes without security or access control, allowing rickshaws to roam freely. This approach is flawed and has been a costly mistake over time."
Given our limited land and burgeoning population, a strategic shift to elevated ways is essential, he noted. This approach maximises land use without the need for additional spaces, mirroring successful models in Singapore and Hong Kong.
"It is not just about cost but strategic development, which holds the key to economic growth," the professor added.
Apart from strengthening internal road connectivity, the draft master plan foresees almost 350% growth in the cross-border flow of goods with the development of value chains across borders.
RHD officials said the proposed highway master plan will take into consideration multiple highways as slated in the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (Sasec) linking the country's sea and land ports with major border points.
A number of Sasec highways already completed or under-construction include Dhaka-Tangail, Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur, Dhaka-Sylhet, Sylhet–Tamabil and Khushtia-Jhinaidah-Jeshore.
How it differs from previous plans
According to RHD officials, a survey was done in 2018 for the construction of an expressway from Dhaka to Chattogram via Laksham at a cost of about Tk98 crore.
A design of the expressway was also formulated. According to an ADB study, the cost of constructing the 217 km expressway was estimated at $2.5 billion.
Besides, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority in 2016 took the initiative to construct a 225km elevated expressway on the Dhaka-Chittagong route.
However, none of the plans took off due to high costs and prospect of high-speed trains.
Also, the RHD prepared an expressway plan with the help of Buet experts to build dedicated expressways on North-South and East-West lines.
However, this plan was cancelled in 2021 on financing considerations.
RHD officials said the new master plan is more inclusive than previous ones as it encompasses both internal and cross-bordering connectivities.
The expressways in the draft highway master plan will require Tk1.91 lakh crore investment
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