A pilot died and another was injured after a training fighter jet of Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the Karnaphuli river in  Chattogram on Thursday (May 09, 2024) morning. The pilot, Asim Jawad, passed away around 12:30 pm while undergoing treatment at BNS Issa Khan Hospital in Patenga, said Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Port Divison Deputy Commissioner Shakila Sultana. The injured pilot is Wing Commander Sohan.   Air Force training fighter jet crashes in Ctg; 2 pilots rescued  The two pilots managed to eject from the aircraft  through parachutes. They were rescued and taken to hospital. The BAF aircraft of Zahurul Haq Base crashed near the Boat Club. “A YAK 130 training fighter of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed at Patenga in Chattogram due to mechanical failure. Two pilots of the plane were rescued,” reads a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Divers and fire fighters are working to retrieve the aircraft.  Read more: Bangladesh Air Force Chief departs for Australia

A training fighter jet of Bangladesh Air Force crashed into the Karnaphuli river in  Chattogram on Thursday (May 09, 2024) morning. “A YAK 130 training fighter of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed at Patenga in Chattogram due to mechanical failure. Two pilots of the plane were rescued,” reads a statement released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Read more: Bangladesh Air Force Annual Exercise 2023 being held

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram earned Tk 25 lakh toll on the first weekly holiday since its opening, as some 7,000 vehicles went through it from 8 am to 8 pm on Friday (November 03, 2023). Tanvir Rifat, assistant engineer (toll and traffic) of the tunnel, shared the information with UNB. The pressure of vehicles was high on the first weekly holiday since the tunnel had opened as thousands of commuters thronged it — causing traffic congestion on both sides, he said.Vehicles took 30 to 45 minutes to cross the tunnel instead of the usual 3.5 minutes due to the heavy traffic. Belayet Hossain, toll manager of the tunnel, said the high number of commuters in vehicles contributed to the traffic gridlock on Friday. Read: Bangabandhu Tunnel: Tk 7.1 lakh toll collected on 2nd day Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first underwater tunnel on October 28. Tk 12,13,300 was collected as toll, as 5,429 vehicles used the tunnel on the first day it opened to traffic (October 29). On the second day, some 3,205 vehicles went through the tunnel and Tk 7.1 lakh was collected as toll. The tunnel opened for vehicular movement at 6 am on October 29. Traffic movement remained low due to the ongoing countrywide hartal called by the opposition parties on Sunday. Read: Tk 1.48 lakh toll collected in 7 hours since Bangabandhu Tunnel opened As many as 14 boxes were set up at Anwara end to collect the toll. A total of 12 categories of vehicles will be able to go through the Bangabandhu Tunnel. The minimum toll for traffic movement in the tunnel has been set at Tk 200, and the maximum is Tk 1,000. Motorcycles or three-wheelers will not be allowed in the Bangabandhu Tunnel. Read more: Bangabandhu Tunnel opens for traffic

Initial work on a tunnel project to build ‘One City, Two Towns’ on the model of Shanghai city of China, on both banks of the Karnaphuli River in Port City Chattogram, began as early as 2017. This project is jointly funded by the governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G). Though initially estimated to cost some Tk 8400 crore, over time that has ballooned to Tk 10,698 crore. Bangladesh government provided Tk 4,619 crore, while the China Exim Bank contributed over Tk 6,000 crore to support the project. Motorcade from PMO makes trial crossing through ‘Bangabandhu Tunnel’ in Ctg The project aims to replicate a 'One City Two Towns' concept, similar to Shanghai in China, on both sides of the Karnaphuli River. The main tunnel has a length of 3.32 kilometres, with each of the two four-lane tubes measuring 2.45 kilometres. Additionally, there will be a 5.35 km link road at both the west and east ends of the main tunnel, along with a 727-metre-long flyover at the Anwara end. BB will release commemorative note of Tk50 to mark launch of Bangabandhu Tunnel The tunnel is situated at a depth ranging from 18 to 31 metres beneath the Karnaphuli River. Vehicles will enter the tunnel from Outer Ring Road, Elevated Expressway, Kathgar Road, Airport Road, and Patenga Beach Road through the tunnel’s north side. Vehicles will run at a speed of 80 km per hour through this tunnel. Despite huge challenges, Bangabandhu Tunnel completed with "high quality, efficiency": Project Manager According to the project documents, the tunnel will connect the proposed Asian Highway with the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar highway and reduce the distance from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar by 40 km.

The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, running  beneath the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, is now awaiting inauguration, with the primary construction phase successfully concluded. The main tunnel is fully equipped and prepared for vehicular movement. This historic project marks the country's first-ever underwater tunnel, and preparations for its grand inauguration are underway. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the tunnel in Chattogram on October 28. Marking the occasion, the prime minister will address a rally at the Anwara end of the tunnel. Also read: Uttara to Motijheel in 38 mins once part of Metro Rail from Agargaon opens on Oct 20 Commencing from the following day, the tunnel will be open for vehicular traffic, providing a significant transportation milestone for the region. In this regard, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the primary construction phase of the tunnel has been successfully concluded. “Presently, the focus is on resolving technical matters within the tunnel. The inauguration of this remarkable project heralds Bangladesh's entry into the era of underwater tunnels,” said Quader. This ‘monumental achievement’ will usher in a new era of communication within the country, marking a source of immense national pride, he added. Also read: After 10 years of delay, Mongla-Khulna rail line likely to open in October   The Bridges Division Secretary Md. Manzur Hossain told UNB that the primary tunnel is fully ready for vehicular traffic. “Ongoing efforts encompass various aspects, including the establishment of essential infrastructure such as fire service and police station buildings. The overall progress of the tunnel project stands at 98 percent,” he said. "Our activities will continue even after the inauguration. It has been discussed to establish a police station, a dumping area, and a station, and the space is available for that. Those who are involved in the operation and those who will perform maintenance will have their own vehicles," he added. The secretary said that the traffic division has devised a dedicated plan for managing the flow of traffic both within and around the tunnel area, aiming to ensure seamless transportation. Inside the tunnel, vehicles will be able to run at a speed of 80 kilometres per hour. It has been decided which vehicles will run in the tunnel. Tolls have also been fixed, said the Bridges secretary (see bolow). Also read: HSIA Terminal 3: Final preparations on course for Oct 7 inauguration “The concept of the tunnel is new to us. That's why it has some challenges. It is different from other bridges or roads. In that case, we have to make sure that the tunnel will be safe and those who use it will also be safe,” said Hossain, adding, “From that perspective, I don't think it's safe for two- or three-wheelers at the moment.” Harun-ur-Rashid, project director of the tunnel, told UNB that the scope of Chittagong city will increase once the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel is opened. "Chittagong city marks one end of the tunnel, while the other end leads to Anwara Upazila. The development of tunnels is transforming Anwara into a burgeoning city. Concurrently, the land prices in Anwara Upazila have seen a substantial increase." Numerous industries, both large and small, are emerging on both sides of the road leading to the tunnel's terminus in Anwara Upazila. When the tunnel becomes operational, it will reduce the Karnaphuli River crossing time to just three minutes. As time is of the essence, the economy is expected to thrive. The tunnel is poised to bring about a transformative change in road connectivity between the capital, Dhaka, and Chittagong city, as well as the tourist destination of Cox's Bazar. Also read: Dhaka-Bhanga railway track via Padma bridge all set for trial run on Thursday The main tunnel spans a length of 3.32 kilometres, with each of the two four-lane tubes measuring 2.45 kilometres. Additionally, there will be a 5.35 km link road at both the west and east ends of the main tunnel, along with a 727-metre-long flyover at the Anwara end. The tunnel is situated at a depth ranging from 18 to 31 metres beneath the Karnaphuli River. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the commencement of boring for the first or northern tunnel from Patenga to Anwara on February 24, 2019. The loan agreement had been signed on June 30, 2015, following a feasibility study of the project in 2011 and a Memorandum of Understanding in 2014. Construction work officially began on December 5, 2017, following the appointment of the contractor. This project is jointly funded by the Governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G), with a total cost of Tk 10,698 crore. The construction work for the tunnel is being carried out by the China Communication and Construction Company Limited (CCCC). The Government of Bangladesh is executing this project with the aim of creating a 'One City Two Towns' concept, similar to Shanghai in China, on either side of the Karnaphuli River. Also read: Elevated expressway marks first of 9 megaprojects to be inaugurated before election A total of 12 types of vehicles will be subject to toll charges when using the 3.43 km long Bangabandhu Tunnel. The minimum toll fee has been set at Tk200, applicable to private cars. Pickup trucks will also be charged Tk200 for each crossing, while microbuses will be charged Tk250. Buses with fewer than 31 seats will incur a toll of Tk300, while those with more than 32 seats will pay Tk400. Big buses with three axles will be charged a toll of Tk500. The toll for trucks capable of carrying goods up to five tonnes has been fixed at Tk400. Eight-ton trucks will have to pay Tk500 and 11-ton trucks will have to pay Tk600. A three-axle container trailer will cost Tk800. A four-axle trailer will cost Tk1,000. However, an additional Tk200 will have to be paid for each additional axle. The toll rate will come into effect on the day the tunnel is opened for vehicular movement. Read more: Toll rates fixed for Karnaphuli tunnel

Rail and road communication via Kalurghat Bridge, the century-old bridge over the Karnaphuli River, have been suspended for three months to get some much-needed renovation work done. The authorities concerned of Bangladesh Railway said the movements of vehicles and trains through the bridge were suspended from Wednesday. After that the railway authorities will inaugurate it with the movement of the Cox’s Bazar-bound train, said Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Railway (East) Abu Zafar Mia. Padma bridge project cost increased further by Tk 1,117 crore Rail communication on the Chattogram-Dohazari route will also remain suspended until the reopening of the Kalurghat bridge, said Abu Zafar. Already the authorities concerned of the Roads and Highways Division have launched a ferry service under the bridge to ensure smooth crossing of vehicles. Two ferries will operate under the bridge while one will remain on standby. Bangladesh Railway appointed a contractor for the renovation work of the bridge, involving Tk 55 crore. Padma Bridge loan: Bridges Division pays 316.02 crore as 2nd two installments The authorities concerned also fixed the tolls for ferrying vehicles: Tk 5 for ferrying rickshaw, van, bicycle and cart, Tk 10 for motorbike, Tk 25 for three-wheeler vehicles, Tk 55 for private cars, Tk 90 for microbus and pickup, Tk 115 for minibus, Tk 135 for vehicles used in agriculture sector, Tk 170 for small truck, Tk 205 for bus, Tk 225 for truck, Tk 450 for heavy truck and Tk 565 for trailer. The bridge was the only means for ten lakh people in Boalkhali upazila to get to Patiya east zone, Rangunia south zone, Chandgaon and Mohora area of the city.

Another tourist’s body was fished out of the Karnaphuli river off the coast of Rangamati’s Kaptai early on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Apurba Saha, 19, a resident of Chattogram city. He went missing while bathing in the river. Also read: 1 tourist drowns, another missing in Karnaphuli River Shaheen Alam, senior station officer of Kaptai Fire Service and Civil Defense, said some fishermen spotted Apurba’s body floating in the river in the Sitaghat area around 6am, 15 hours after he drowned. On information, Kaptai Fire Service personnel fished out the body. The body was later handed to Chandraghona police, said the official. On Wednesday, four of a six-member tourist group from Chattogram drowned in the Karnaphuli River at noon while bathing. Also read: Father, son go missing in Karnaphuli River Fighting against the current, three of them managed to swim ashore and another was rescued by Fire Service members, while two friends went missing. Later, a four-member naval diving team started searching for the missing tourist in the Sita Ghat area at 4.39 pm and recovered 19-year-old Lokesh Vaidya’s body.

A fisherman and his son went missing while fishing  in the Karnaphuli River near Evergreen Ghat in Chattogram on Sunday. They are Tapan Das, 45  and Samir Das,15 of Kolagaon in Patia upazila. Read: Fisherman goes missing as boat sinks in Arial Khan Senior officer of Nandakanan Fire Service Mohammad Ali  said Tapan, his son Samir and another one went to the Karnaphuli River for fishing around 5 am. At one stage, Samir fell into the river first and when Tapan jumped into the river to rescue his son their boat sank. On information, divers from the local Fire Service rushed to the spot and conducted a rescue operation.

Naval police recovered the body of a man from Bridgeghat area of Karnaphuli River on Friday, two days after he went missing from an oil tanker that caught fire on the river in Chattogram. Nazrul Islam Saddam, 35,  jumped into the river to escape the fire caused by an explosion on tanker ‘OT Ocean” during gas wielding work in its engine room on Wednesday. Read: Decomposed body of 'foreign citizen' recovered from Kushiara river A worker named Junayed was burnt to death on board the vessel. Several others were injured. But Nazrul was missing since he jumped off the vessel.   Read: Another body washes ashore on Cox’s Bazar beach ABM Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadarghat Naval Police, said the body was sent to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy.

Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan on Wednesday said the construction of a railway-cum-road bridge over the Karnaphuli River at Kalurghat in Chattogram will begin early next year.