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Published : 14 May 2025, 01:14 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has expressed hope that the construction of the much-anticipated Kalurghat Rail-Road Bridge will bring an end to the hardships faced by the long-suffering people of southern Chattogram.
On Wednesday, Yunus unveiled the foundation stone of the bridge in the form a plaque at the Chattogram Circuit House, according to a post on his official Facebook page. With this, the long-awaited rail-cum-road bridge over the Karnaphuli River has officially moved into its implementation phase.
In his inauguration remarks, Chief Advisor Yunus said the Kalurghat Bridge holds many personal memories for him. Highlighting its historical importance, he added: “Even today, residents from Boalkhali are here with us. The Kalurghat Bridge has been their long-cherished dream. Once completed, this bridge will relieve a great deal of hardship for the people of Chattogram.”
Road Transport and Bridges Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan noted that constructing a new bridge over the Karnaphuli River has been a long-standing demand of south Chattogram residents.
“Now that construction is starting, people in Boalkhali and surrounding areas are elated. The current bridge was built in 1931. Even assuming a lifespan of 80 years, it technically expired in 2011.”
He added that the new bridge is expected to be completed by 2029 and open to the public in 2030.
Although the foundation stone was laid by Yunus, his name does not appear on the plaque. According to officials from Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Division, this was done at Yunus’s own request.
Abdul Kalam Chowdhury, project director of the Kalurghat Bridge project, said: “In practical terms, work on the bridge has already begun. We’ve completed the feasibility study and have issued tenders for hiring consultants. During the upcoming monsoon season (August–September), we will conduct river training surveys during peak tides.”
He expressed hope that visible construction activity will begin by December.
According to data from Bangladesh Railway, the entire project will span 11.44 km, with the main bridge over the river extending 700 metres and measuring 31.95 metres in width.
The project also includes 6.2 km of viaducts and 4.5 km of embankments, along with a new railway line. The bridge will have a height clearance of 12.20 metres, allowing large vessels to pass underneath easily. It will also feature a dual-gauge railway line.
The demand for the bridge has been the focus of long-running campaigns and protests. The late Moinuddin Khan Badal, MP for Chattogram-8, had even threatened to resign from parliament over the lack of progress.
After prolonged discussions, a loan agreement for the bridge was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and South Korea on Jun 27, 2023. The Development Project Proposal (DPP) was approved on Nov 17 that year, with the project deadline set for Dec 31, 2029.
The estimated total cost of the project is Tk 115.61 billion, of which Tk 44.36 billion will come from the government and Tk 71.25 billion will be funded through foreign loans.
Bangladesh Railway will be the implementing agency for the project.
