United News of Bangladesh

Karnaphuli Tunnel, the country’s first underwater expressway tunnel in Chattagram, was built just for the convenience of the former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed,  the chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Wednesday “We don’t need Karnaphuli Tunnel right now. May be it would have been needed after 10 years, but not now,” he said while speaking at the Development Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (DJFB) talk held at the NEC Auditorium in the Planning Commission. Shafiqul said that now the government is unable to collect even the loan servicing money from this tunnel’s toll collection. “This is because there is nothing on the other side. Anwara Upazila is there, which is the home place of the Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Jabed. For his own need he built that tunnel,” he said. Bangladesh’s economic turnaround a ‘miracle’: CA’s press secy He asked the journalists to find out the truth and who was behind this project. He also said that a seven star hotel has been built there using Tk 450 crore. “Who will stay there? What attraction is there for the people to stay there? He made it for his own purpose,” he added. The press secretary said Jabed might have thought that they (Awami League) will be in power till 2041. “These were all wastages, for that we all are bearing burdens. The government is increasing taxes to tackle this situation, there is no other way, we have to do the loan servicing,” he added. The tunnel was inaugurated on October 28, 2023 beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram. This is the first underwater expressway tunnel in South Asia. The tunnel, stretching 3.32 kilometers with two tubes each accommodating two lanes, connects Patenga on the river’s west bank to Anwara on the east.

Patrolling will be strengthened from Monday evening in all parts of the country, including Dhaka, as the law and order situation has deteriorated slightly, according to Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser. "We are observing that the law and order situation has deteriorated a bit, we will increase patrolling in these places. You will see this patrol from this evening in the whole Dhaka city,” he said. The Press Secretary came up with the information while talking to reporters after a core-committee meeting on law and order situation, at the Secretariat. “There will be a joint patrol team comprising Police, Army, Navy and BGB. Check-posts will be set up in places to monitor the law and order situation and search operations will be conducted as well,” he said. Referring to the increase of intelligence surveillance, Shafiqul said "Our intelligence wing, intelligence agency –will monitor in their own way and then action will be taken as follows.” Countrywide combined patrols to begin tonight: Home Adviser Talking about the decision of the meeting to purchase motorbikes for law enforcers, Shafiqul said, “Dhaka is a traffic-prone area. If something happens somewhere, the law enforcers are often late to go there. It has been decided to give a lot of motorbikes to the law enforcement agencies. Motorbikes will be purchased soon, so that two people can go to the spot quickly using motorbikes.” Initially, efforts are underway to purchase 100 motorbikes now and 100 more will be purchased later for the police. Besides, 50 more motorbikes will be purchased for the members of the law enforcing agencies, he said. Asked whether the government is concerned about the law and order situation, the press secretary said today's meeting was held as the government is taking the law and order situation seriously. He also expected to see visible improvement in the law and order situation very soon. Referring to the attack on the Air Force base in Cox's Bazar, he said, "The report has been sought from the Superintendent of Cox's Bazar and the security agencies, everything will be known after the reports are submitted."