Chattogram
609 shelters ready in Chattogram ahead of cyclone 'Midhili'
Chattogram district administration has prepared 609 cyclone shelters to deal with cyclone 'Midhili' over the Bay of Bengal.
Deputy Commissioner Abul Bashar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman provided the information at an emergency preparedness meeting held on Thursday night.
The DC confirmed the readiness of 609 cyclone shelters to tackle the approaching cyclone.
Two trucks set on fire in Dhaka, Chattogram
Among these, 116 are situated within Chattogram city, while 493 are spread across the Chattogram district.
Moreover, directives have been issued to upazila nirbahi officers and district secondary and primary education officers to identify and prepare various educational institutions as additional shelter facilities, said the deputy commissioner.
On the instructions of the deputy commissioner, the district relief and rehabilitation officer presented the relief situation in the meeting.
The district relief and rehabilitation officers said the district administration currently possesses cash amounting to Tk 22.30 lakh for relief purposes, 244 metric tons of rice, Tk 6.80 lakh for cattle feed, Tk 6.80 lakh for baby food, 472 bags of dry food, 1000 blankets, and 47 thousand ORsaline in stock.
2 killed as covered van rams into two vehicles in Chattogram
The meeting was attended by heads of various district-level government departments, representatives of city corporations, the upazila chairman's office, the upazila nirbahi officers, the assistant commissioner (land), upazila project implementation officer, various NGOs, media workers, and activists of voluntary organizations.
The deputy commissioner has directed to open control rooms in emergency service providers, especially hospitals, electricity, gas, water and city corporations, organize emergency meetings of disaster management committees at the upazila level, and take the activities of all departments as per their respective SOP.
Woman's body found hanging in Chattogram
Apart from this, various NGOs, voluntary organisations, media have been instructed to participate in disaster management, to continue the awareness activities in the coastal and mountainous areas, to contact the district relief and rehabilitation officer and the district administration's control room number in case of any emergency.
The deputy commissioner said all sorts of preparations have been made to address any potential disaster.
As another blockade begins, AL and associate bodies set to hold peace rallies in Ctg
Another 48-hour blockade, called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties to press home their one point demand, began this morning (November 15, 2023) with traffic movement on the streets.
The latest blockade started at 6 am today and will end at 6 am on Friday.
Dhaka city is witnessing an increase in vehicular movement and commuters on the streets.
People were seen rushing to their respective destinations. Rickshaws are dominating the city roads.
48-hour blockade: Two buses set ablaze in Gazipur
Earlier on Tuesday, miscreants set four buses on fire in Dhaka’s Mirpur area ahead of the blockade called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties.
Meanwhile in Chattogram city, Awami League and its associate bodies will hold peace rallies at 19 points against BNP-Jamaat’s blockade.
The points include Darul Fazal Market premises, Kathgarh, Saltgola crossing, Badamtoli, Bohaddarhat, Naya Bazar, AK Khan, City Gate, Wasa, Muradpur, Kaptai Road, Oxygen, Aman Bazar, Moti Tower, Bakolia Access Road, Natun Bridge, Andorkilla and Dewanhat intersection.
After a pause for a day, BNP and like-minded opposition parties called yet another 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Wednesday to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.
228 BGB platoons deployed to beef up security across the country amid BNP-Jamaat's 48hr blockade
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Monday afternoon.
BNP and other opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been enforcing blockades across the country since Oct 31.
BNP’s like-minded parties announce fresh 48-hour blockade from Wednesday
In another first, PM Hasina opens Ctg-Cox's Bazar railway line
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (November 11, 2023) inaugurated the much-awaited 102-kilometre Chattogram-Cox's Bazar dual-gauge single railway line setting yet another milestone in the country's communication network.
The southern region wore a festive look as she unveiled the new rail route (from Dohazari in Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar) for train movement at a ceremony at newly constructed Cox’s Bazar Railway Station.
The premier flagged off a train and then travelled by it from Cox’s Bazar Railway Station to Ramu Railway Station.
Read: Oyster-shaped railway station adds greater tourist attraction to Cox’s Bazar
She bought her own ticket from the counter of the railway station. She waved the green flag before boarding the train.
She also blew the whistle signalling the start of the train.
Addressing the inauguration programme, the prime minister said, “Today Cox's Bazar has been linked to the country's railway network. I am really very delighted for being able to attend the inaugural ceremony physically, " she said.
"I have kept my promise by inaugurating the railway. This was a longstanding demand of this region. This is a day of feeling proud," she said.
Read: Railway Minister to inspect Dohazari-Cox's Bazar line before inauguration
Talking to reporters during the train ride, the prime minister said that this train link will contribute a lot to country’s GDP and economy.
“Transportation of goods, people and tourists will be expedited resulting in increase the GDP and more vibrant economy,” she said.
She mentioned that Cox’s Bazar has the longest sandy sea beach in the world.
“But we could not build this tourist spot up to the mark. We have to make sure that tourists can come here comfortably,” she said.
PM Hasina said that apart of tourists conveyance the trade and commerce of this area have been given importance.
“We are building a deep seaport, power station, building an economic zone here,” she said.
She also mentioned that Bangladesh will be linked with trans Asian railway by this rail line.
“This rail line will go to Ghumdhum from Ramu, later from Ghumdhum it will be linked with South and South East countries.”
Read: Chinese-built railway opens via Bangladesh's Padma Bridge
On her arrival at the venue, the prime minister was received by Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan and local MPs.
Local artists greeted her with traditional songs and dances.
The railways minister presided over the programme.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Ginting and Railways Ministry secretary Md Humayun Kabir also spoke at the event.
Elderly man dies as train hits him in Ctg
A-64-year-old man died after being hit by a speedy train on Dhaka-Chattogram rail track in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram district on Monday.
The deceased was identified as Farid Ahamad, a resident of Sonapahar area under Jorarganj union of the upazila.
48hr blockade: Bus burnt in Chattogram’s Oxygen Mor
Locals said they spotted the body of Farid lying on the railway track in front of BSRM Factory in the Sonapahar area in the morning and informed police.
Later, police recovered the body and sent it to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy, said Amzad Hossain, sub inspector of Sitakunda railway police outpost.
3 motorcyclists killed in Chattogram road accident
However, police suspected that Farid might have died after being hit by train.
Local Jubo Dal leader held with arms in Chattogram
BNP calls dawn-to-dusk hartal in Ctg Sunday protesting arrest of Amir Khasru
BNP on Saturday called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Chattogram for Sunday in protest against the arrest of the party’s standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury from his Dhaka residence.
A press release was issued in this regard on Saturday.
Md Idris Ali, office coordinator of the city unit BNP, said Chattogram metropolitan, north and south district units of BNP called for the daylong hartal protesting the arrest of Amir Khasru, also a former minister.
Read : Jubo Dal leader hacked after abduction in Natore
The party’s leaders and activists were urged to observe the hartal peacefully, said the release.
Ambulance, vehicles carrying newspapers, journalists and fire service will remain out of purview of the hartal, it said.
The hartal will be enforced along with the two-day countrywide blockade set to begin from 6:00 am on Sunday.
Read : Over 250 BNP, Jamaat fellows sued in 2 cases over clash with Chhatra League, police in Sylhet
BNP’s Vice-Chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Mir Md Nasir Uddin, chairperson’s advisors Golam Akbar Khandaker, SM Fazlul Hoque, central committee’s Organising Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Shamim and city unit BNP Convenor Dr Shahadat Hossain, among others, urged the party activists to observe the hartal peacefully.
Early Friday, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained Amir Khasru from his Gulshan residence in the capital.
Later, he was shown arrested in police constable Aminul Islam murder case filed with Paltan police station.
Read : No innocent BNP leader or activist being arrested: Razzaque
The constable sustained severe injuries in clashes with BNP men during the October 28 grand rally in Dhaka. Later he died.
A Dhaka court on Friday placed the BNP leader on a six-day remand in the case.
Bangabandhu Tunnel: Tk 25 lakh toll collected on first weekly holiday since opening
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
Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River: All you need to know
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.
Bangabandhu Tunnel awaits inauguration; toll rates finalised
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
Body parts of a man found inside a luggage in Chattogram:Police
Police said on Friday they recovered a decapitated body of a man from inside a luggage at Chattogram’s Patenga area.
The mutilated body was recovered from the luggage laying inside a bush in ghat no 12 of Patenga on Thursday night, police said.
Police constable dies after falling off building in Chattogram
The identity of the deceased has yet to be ascertained.
Police suspect that the victim was murdered at a different location, dismembered, and concealed in the luggage before being transported here. An investigation into this matter has been initiated by the police.
7-year-old girl murdered after rape in Chattogram; youth held
Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Patenga Police Station Mohammad Aftab Hossain, said a decapitated body was found inside the luggage.
The body has been sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for autopsy, he added.
70-year-old man found dead in Chattogram
The OC further informed that the luggage was found in a narrow alley. From the luggage, the police also recovered the shirt and lungi (sarong) of the deceased person.
“We have initiated legal proceedings in this regard,” said the OC.
Injured monkey goes to Sitakunda Health Complex, receives treatment
A monkey has become the talk of the locality after it went to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex in Chattogram twice and received treatment for wounds.
Surprised locals said that the wild animal was first seen in the area around a month back and since then it is frequently seen here and there.
The monkey with wounds was spotted in front of the upazila health complex over the past couple of days.
Dr Nuruddin Rashed, a physician at the upazila health complex, said, “I found the monkey, with wounds, sitting on the balcony of the hospital when I was about to leave work on Saturday afternoon.”
Read: Endangered Lojjaboti monkey rescued in Rangamati, released in Kaptai National Park
Later, he dressed the wounds on the monkey, and it left the health complex, said the doctor.
The monkey again appeared at the hospital on Sunday, he said, adding that brandages were put on the monkey’s wounds. Later, it went away.
“The animal seemed to be in pain and some of the wounds in the back started to rot. This could have happened due to electric shock from sitting on power lines,” he said, adding, “I wanted to know the whereabouts of the monkey when I joined the office today. The monkey was seen sitting on a branch of a tree by the hospital.”
Read more: Endangered Lojjaboti monkey rescued in Bandarban