Bangladesh inks treaty with China for constructing an underwater tunnel on Karnaphuli River

Bangladesh has signed an agreement with China to build a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 30 June 2015, 10:19 AM
Updated : 30 June 2015, 11:04 AM
The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges inked the deal with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) on Tuesday in Beijing, ministry spokesperson Abu Naser, who is in China, told bdnews24.com.

Bridges Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh in presence of Minister Obaidul Quader, he said.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and China for the tunnel during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Beijing visit in June last year.

The 3.5 km tunnel will cost Tk 90 billion, Road Transport Minister Quader said last year.

The tunnel would be connected to the proposed Asian Highway and to Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway, according to the minister.

He had said then it would be built on a 'Government-to-Government’ basis and hoped the project would be completed by December 2018.