Grenade attack verdict to be neutral: Quader

Awami League secretary general Obaidul Quader yesterday said the verdict in August 21 Grenade attack case will be delivered neutrally. "BNP is involved in the killings. No matter, who the killers are and how powerful they are, they won't be pardoned. Anyone who will be convicted in the trial must get the punishment," he said while visiting the construction site of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in the port city of Chattogram, reports UNB.

Quader, also the Road, Transport and Bridges Minister, said 24 percent construction works on the tunnel have been completed. The minister expressed his firm conviction that the government is relentlessly working to complete the construction work of the much awaited tunnel under the river Karnaphuli in time.

Deputy project director (admin) Dr Anupam Shaha showed tunnel boring machine (TBM) to the minister.

The four-lane tunnel under the river is being constructed aiming to build 'One City Two Towns' in light with Sanghai of China and Hong Kong, to strengthen the role of Chattogram as the centre of communications, develop the communications system of Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar national highway and create a link with the Asia Highway Network.

The main tunnel will be 3.4km long with two tubes. A 5.35-km approach road on the west and east sides of the tunnel and 727-metre over bridge will connect Anwara upazila with the port city, said the project director.

The digging work will start in October after putting the TBM in operation, he said.

Quader directed the district administration and project authority to monitor strictly as the construction works to be completed of the much awaited tunnel under the river Karnaphuli in time.

Bangladesh Awami League (AL) Organizing Secretary Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Deputy Publication and Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam, Chattogram Zilla Parishad Chairman M A Salam, President of Chattogram South District AL Muslem Uddin Ahmed, City penal mayor Chowdhury Hasan Mohammad Hasni and deputy Project Director Dr Anupom Shah were also present.

China’s Exim Bank has provided soft loan around Taka 9,000 crore out of Taka 20,000 crore for the project while Chinese firm ‘China Communication Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), has been appointed as consultant for construction of the four-lane tunnel, the source added.

The multilane tunnel route will pass through the river close to Navy College on one side and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) on the other.

The tunnel will cut the road distance between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, apart from facilitating the heavy traffic on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway entering the port city to go to other parts of Chittagong division.

The tunnel will connect Chittagong Port and Anowara Upazila and is expected to make communication between Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar easier also ease traffic on two bridges over the Karnaphuli River.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly laid foundation stone of the project on October 14 in 2017.

 

Grenade attack verdict to be neutral: Quader

Awami League secretary general Obaidul Quader yesterday said the verdict in August 21 Grenade attack case will be delivered neutrally. BNP is involved in the killings. No matter, who the killers are and how powerful they are, they wont be pardoned. Anyone who will be convicted in the trial must get the punishment, he said while visiting the construction site of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in the port city of Chattogram, reports UNB. Quader, also the Road, Transport and Bridges Minister, said 24 percent construction works on the tunnel have been completed. The minister expressed his firm conviction that the government is relentlessly working to complete the construction work of the much awaited tunnel under the river Karnaphuli in time. Deputy project director (admin) Dr Anupam Shaha showed tunnel boring machine (TBM) to the minister. The four-lane tunnel under the river is being constructed aiming to build One City Two Towns in light with Sanghai of China and Hong Kong, to strengthen the role of Chattogram as the centre of communications, develop the communications system of Dhaka-Chittagong-Coxs Bazar national highway and create a link with the Asia Highway Network. The main tunnel will be 3.4km long with two tubes. A 5.35-km approach road on the west and east sides of the tunnel and 727-metre over bridge will connect Anwara upazila with the port city, said the project director. The digging work will start in October after putting the TBM in operation, he said. Quader directed the district administration and project authority to monitor strictly as the construction works to be completed of the much awaited tunnel under the river Karnaphuli in time. Bangladesh Awami League (AL) Organizing Secretary Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, Deputy Publication and Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam, Chattogram Zilla Parishad Chairman M A Salam, President of Chattogram South District AL Muslem Uddin Ahmed, City penal mayor Chowdhury Hasan Mohammad Hasni and deputy Project Director Dr Anupom Shah were also present. Chinas Exim Bank has provided soft loan around Taka 9,000 crore out of Taka 20,000 crore for the project while Chinese firm China Communication Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), has been appointed as consultant for construction of the four-lane tunnel, the source added. The multilane tunnel route will pass through the river close to Navy College on one side and Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) and Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company (Kafco) on the other. The tunnel will cut the road distance between Chittagong and Coxs Bazar, apart from facilitating the heavy traffic on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway entering the port city to go to other parts of Chittagong division. The tunnel will connect Chittagong Port and Anowara Upazila and is expected to make communication between Chattogram and Coxs Bazar easier also ease traffic on two bridges over the Karnaphuli River. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly laid foundation stone of the project on October 14 in 2017.