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Bangabandhu Tunnel Nears Completion: Final Touches Underway for Inauguration
Chattogram’s highly anticipated infrastructure marvel, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, is on the verge of completion with 98 percent of its construction work finished. The project director, Md Harunur Rashid Chowdhury, revealed that the remaining two percent will be swiftly completed as workers and engineers are working tirelessly round the clock. The grand inauguration is expected to be graced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in September. The tunnel, a crucial element in transforming Chattogram into “one city with two towns,” runs beneath the Karnaphuli River and will be open to vehicular traffic from September onwards.
The tunnel, boasting multiple lanes, will directly link the Chattogram Port to Anwara upazila, creating a seamless connection between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. The twin tubes, constructed 11 meters apart, ensure convenient passage for heavy vehicles. The impressive 3.40-kilometer-long tunnel is complemented by a 5.35-kilometer-long approach road and a 740-meter bridge, connecting the bustling city, port, and the western side of the river with its industrializing eastern side and Anwara upazila.
The tunnel’s significance lies in its role in the Asian Highway and Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’sBazar Highway, considerably reducing the distance by 40 kilometers and allowing vehicles to cruise at 80 kilometers per hour. With a total cost of Tk 10,374 crore, the project is jointly funded by the governments of Bangladesh and China, with the China Communications Construction Company Ltd serving as the contractor. The Exim Bank of China provides a loan of Tk 5,913 crore at a nominal two percent interest, while the Bangladesh government funds the remaining portion.
Business leaders anticipate the tunnel to be a game-changer for the southeastern region of Bangladesh, solving connectivity issues and fostering economic growth. As the project nears its completion date, excitement grows for the transformation it will bring to Chattogram and the greater region. The tunnel’s inauguration is eagerly awaited by the nation, as it represents a testament to Bangladesh’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure and facilitating smoother transportation networks for the benefit of its citizens.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a cautionary notice indicating that the current heatwave is anticipated to endure for 72 consecutive hours commencing Thursday morning.
The BMD attributes the prolonged discomfort to heightened moisture incursion, amplifying the oppressive conditions.
This advisory comes subsequent to prior warnings released on April 19th and April 22nd, underscoring the BMD’s ongoing vigilance and management of the adverse weather dynamics impacting the area.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (25 April) called for speaking out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars.
“We must speak out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars,” she said adding that Bangladesh supports the UN Secretary General’s ‘New Agenda for Peace.
The prime minister was addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) held at the ESCAP Hall (2nd floor), United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) here.
She arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to Thailand.
The PM said the pre-condition for sustainable development is lasting peace and security.
“We must settle regional disputes and tension through dialogue. Our mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain paramount,” she said.
Hasina called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to redouble their efforts to end Rohingya crisis as all efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle without it.
“The origin of their crisis has been in Myanmar, and its solution also lies in Myanmar,” she declared.
“As long as that solution remains out of reach, all our efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle. Let us redouble our efforts to put that puzzle back in place,” she said.
She said that in August 2017, when thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh, Bangladesh offered them temporary shelter.
“With an ever growing population, this has now become one of the largest humanitarian situations in the world,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that In the backdrop of ongoing armed conflicts in Myanmar, the Rohingya repatriation process is also getting delayed.
“This is creating serious security risks within and beyond our territories,” she said.
She called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to play a proactive role in resolving the volatile situation in Myanmar.
“We must ensure that the Rohingya can go back home in safety and dignity at the earliest possible,” she said.
The prime minister said that the Asia-Pacific region must stand united against its common enemies of poverty and hunger.
She said Bangladesh has reduced poverty from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent between 2006 and 2022.
It also reduced extreme poverty from 25.1 to 5.6 percent during the same period.
“We remain confident about eradicating extreme poverty by 2030,” she said.
She mentioned that Bangladesh has made notable progress on food security, with focused interventions on maternal and child nutrition.
“Our current priority is to address inequalities through income distribution, asset ownership, and social protection,” she said.
The prime minister said that Asia-Pacific region must put up a united front in tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and transboundary pollution.
“We need to push for ambitious climate financing goals beyond 2025 at COP-29. We need to cooperate on cross-border water management and air quality improvement. We must all prepare for growing extreme weather events,” she said.
In this connection, she suggested looking into Bangladesh’s experience in disaster risk reduction.
“We appreciate UN-ESCAP’s support in improving our early warning capabilities,” she added.
Briefly describing various development programmes and achievements of her govebrment, the prime minister said that much of the development gains are affected by climate impacts.
“As a low-lying delta, Bangladesh has no option but to invest heavily in climate resilience,” she said.
She mentioned that Bangladesh is already recognised as a global leader in climate adaptation.
“We are happy to share our traditional and innovative solutions with other vulnerable countries,” she said.
She said that Bangladesh has urged developed and emerging economies in the region to raise their time-bound emission reduction targets.
“For economies in transition, it is important to have a just energy transition.”
In Bangladesh, she said, “we are working on long-term energy security with a sound mix of clean and renewable energy.”
“We shall continue to do our part in pursuing a circular and low-carbon economic growth pathway.”
She underscored the need for increased and easy access to financing and technology from both the public and private sectors.
“I invite UN-ESCAP to help build the capacity of climate-vulnerable countries to mobilise adequate international climate financing.”
PM Hasina said that Bangladesh now provides critical links to the Trans-Asian Highway and Railway networks.
“Our physical and digital infrastructures are being developed to foster regional trade and connectivity.”
She said Bangladesh offers access to the Bay of Bengal for land-locked territories in its neighbourhood.
“We stand ready to work together with all regional partners through mutual understanding and cooperation,” said the prime minister.
A severe heatwave blankets several northern and southern districts, while mild to moderate heat prevails in three divisions and other districts, according to the latest meteorological forecast.
“The severe heatwave affects Rajshahi, Pabna, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jashore, and Patuakhali districts,” the report stated.
Mild to moderate heatwave conditions persist in Dhaka, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions, as well as in parts of Rajshahi, Khulna, and Barishal divisions, along with Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, and Bandarban districts. The heatwave may extend further, the report added.
Expect rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds in Sylhet division, with isolated hailstorms, as per the weather bulletin valid for the next 24 hours from 9 am today.
Elsewhere across the country, the weather is forecasted to remain mainly dry with occasional partly cloudy skies.
A trough of low pressure lies over West Bengal and the adjoining area.
On Tuesday, the highest temperature recorded was 40.5 degrees Celsius at Ishurdi, while the lowest was 20.7 degrees Celsius at Tetulia.
Daytime temperatures may rise slightly, while nighttime temperatures may drop slightly across the country.
Increased moisture incursion may persist, causing discomfort.
In the capital, the sun sets at 6:24 PM today and rises at 5:29 AM tomorrow.
