Prime Minister Inaugurated the Bangabandhu Tunnel

Finally the wait is over. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel' built under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong.  She inaugurated the tunnel by unveiling a plaque on the west bank of the Karnaphuli river at Patenga today Saturday (October 28) at 11:40 am. Crossing the tunnel, she will unveil another plaque at the Anwara end. Earlier she reached Chittagong a little before 11 o'clock.

Apart from inaugurating the tunnel, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of several other projects in Chittagong. The Prime Minister will also release a special commemorative postage stamp, inauguration day envelope and a special seal to mark the inauguration of the first underwater road tunnel on the occasion of the inauguration of the Bangabandhu Tunnel.

Meanwhile on this inauguration ceremony Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Parliament Deputy Leader Matia Chowdhury, Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Education Deputy Minister Mohibul Hasan Naufel Hasan Chowdhury and many others wrere present with the Prime Minister.

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.

After the inauguration, the Prime Minister toured the Bangabandhu Tunnel with a fleet of cars and tolled with her own hands.

It would connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway by reducing distance by 40km.

 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.

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.

Earlier 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.

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.

Earlier 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.