Bangladesh entered a new era of trouble-free road communication with the inauguration of Bangladesh’s first-ever underwater tunnel on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the 3.32km tunnel named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that runs under the Karnaphuli River.
The tunnel, the first of its kind in South Asia, promises to fast-track the country's road connectivity, spur the economy and promote tourism. It has two tubes and four lanes.
Terming the tunnel a gift, the prime minister said: “Vehicles will now traverse the Daijja (river), and people will reach their homes via the Daijja. I have brought you a special gift."
She was speaking at a public gathering organized by the Chittagong Metropolitan, North and South units of the ruling Awami League. The gathering was organized at the Korean EPZ ground in Karnaphuli Upazila Saturday.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Sheikh Hasina said: "My objective is to fulfill the dream of our nation's founding father."
She highlighted the issue of siltation caused by the construction of bridges across the river, saying: "The more bridges we build the more siltation we create. That's why we've made a tunnel. Now, vehicles will traverse the riverbed."
Expressing gratitude to all those involved in the tunnel's construction, the prime minister acknowledged the contributions of Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, domestic and foreign engineers, national and international consultants, administrative personnel, the navy, law enforcement agencies, and the diligent workers who dedicated day and night to this project.
Sheikh Hasina also expressed her gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying: "I proposed the idea of constructing a tunnel during my visit to China, and the president readily agreed."
"This progress has only become achievable because you cast your votes for the boat in the last election. The Bangabandhu Shilpanagar is set to be established in Mirsarai of Chittagong with a $22 billion investment proposal already in hand. Another industrial zone is under development in Anwara. We're transforming the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway into a six-lane road and upgrading the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway likewise."
Sheikh Hasina further said that a survey is underway in Chittagong for the construction of a metro rail. A four-lane road from Chaktai to Kalurghat is in progress, and the world's largest marine drive is under an expansion plan which will go up to Mirsarai. A number of water treatment plants are being built at a cost of Tk11,000 crore aimed at alleviating water logging.
The prime minister also said: "We've extended the railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu, with plans to extend it further to Rangamati. Matarbari is set to become a deep-sea port with an LNG terminal, marking substantial progress that cannot be conveyed through words."
She concluded by affirming that Chittagong is undeniably evolving into a commercial capital.
The prime minister inaugurated the Bangabandhu Tunnel at the Patenga end of the city at 11:50am on Saturday (October 28). Subsequently, her motorcade reached the tunnel's toll plaza at 12pm, where she personally paid the toll. Afterward, she joined the public gathering and inaugurated nine more projects at a cost of Tk528.19crore, laying the foundation stone for two additional projects. In addition to the tunnel's inauguration, Sheikh Hasina unveiled commemorative postage tickets, souvenir seats, seals, and Tk50 notes during the 1pm public gathering.
Following the formalities of the opening stage, the Prime Minister proceeded to the scheduled public meeting stage at 1:10pm. The public meeting was chaired by Chittagong South District Awami League President Motaherul Islam Chowdhury, with General Secretary Mofizur Rahman moderating the event. Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury, General Secretary Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Presidium member Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, and Lands Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed also addressed the gathering.
The people of the port city and the southern region greeted the opening of the tunnel with cheers and the hope of its adding a new dimension in the economy like China's Shanghai.
Earlier, the premier unveiled the plaque of the tunnel on the north bank of the Karnaphuli at Patenga at 11.40am. She paid the toll for her motorcade at the south bank of the river at Anwara.
A mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was set up in front of Shah Amanat International Airport and a shampan (boat) was placed there to mark the occasion.
The two ends of the tunnel were decorated with multi-coloured banners and flags.
The tunnel has been built at a cost Tk10.374 crore. Almost 99 percent work of the project has been completed and the rest will be done in December, while over 100 CCTVs have been installed inside the tunnel.
The tunnel has been built with joint funding of the governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G). Exim Bank of China is giving a loan of Tk5,913 crore while the Bangladesh government is funding the rest.
China has provided technical and financial assistance for the project.
According to an official notification, a total of 12 types of vehicles will have to pay tolls at the Bangabandhu Tunnel. Based on the feasibility study conducted for the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, it is projected that once the tunnel becomes operational, an average of 28,305 vehicles will traverse through it on a daily basis by the year 2025.
Furthermore, the study estimates that by 2030, the number of vehicles is expected to increase to 37,946, and by 2067, the target will be of an average of 162,000 vehicles per day.