Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram is getting ready for opening to traffic as its 98 percent construction works have been so far completed.   Project Director (PD) Md Harunur Rashid Chowdhury told said, “Now the workers are bustling to give  final touch   as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to the tunnel in September.”   He said workers and engineers concerned are working round the clock for opening the mega project to traffic  in  September.   “Already 98 percent of the tunnel work has been completed. The remaining two percent works will be completed soon. However, the project tenure will end on December 30,” he said.   The project director said there is no major work in the tunnel, while both tubes are ready, adding, “If everything goes well, then we can finish the work by August. However, the ministry will decide when it will be inaugurated.”   Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at a function said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.   According to project details, the tunnel will actually turn Chattogram into "one city with two towns". It is being constructed beneath the Karnaphuli River and it is expected to be opened for vehicular movement in September this year.   The multilane tunnel will directly connect the Chattogram Port with Anwara upazila, which will directly connect Cox's Bazar with Chattogram.   The project details said, two tubes have been constructed within an 11-metre gap so that heavy vehicles can pass through the tunnel easily.   The length of the tunnel is 3.40 kilometres with an approach road of 5.35 kilometres alongside a 740-metre bridge linking the main city, port and the western side of the river with its eastern side.   As part of the project, bridges, totalling 740 metres in length have been built, linking the main port city and western side of Karnaphuli River with the heavily industrializing eastern side of the river and Anwara upazila.   Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the boring work of the first tunnel tube on February 24, 2019.   Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly laid the foundation stone of the Bangabandhu Tunnel on October 14, 2016. China Communications Construction Company Ltd is working as the contractor of the project.   The tunnel will connect the proposed Asian Highway with Dhaka-Chattogram- Cox'sBazar Highway along with reducing the distance by 40 km. Vehicles in this tunnel will run at a speed of 80 km per hour.   Bangabandhu Tunnel is being built at a cost of Taka 10,374 crore. The tunnel project is being implemented with joint funding from the governments of Bangladesh and China. The Exim Bank of China is giving a loan of Taka 5,913 crore at two per cent interest while the Bangladesh government is funding the remaining portion.   Newly elected president of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries and former president of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mahbubul Alam recently told BSS that once the tunnel is opened, it will be a game changer for the southeast region of Bangladesh, presenting a solution to connectivity issues to the rest of the country.

The government wants to build a smart population to establish a developed country by 2041. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remarked this at the Bangladesh Coast Guard's founding anniversary ceremony on Monday, February 13. She said, forces like Coast Guard are working efficiently to ensure the security of the coastal region. She also commented that the government is working to strengthen the Coast Guard. The Prime Minister complained that those who were in power after 1975, had no intension to establish rights in the maritime boundary.

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today said her party never flees, rather it works with the people for their betterment, calling upon the countrymen to vote the party to build a developed, prosperous and “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041. “They (BNP leaders) who are saying that the Awami League will not get the chance of fleeing, I want to clear them one thing that the Awami League never flees, but their (BNP) leaders flee,” she said. She said this while addressing as the chief guest a grand rally that turned into a human sea with participation of tens of thousands of people organised by Rajshahi city and district units of the AL at the historic Madrasha ground here.   At the rally, the premier also inaugurated 26 projects including seven of the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), worth over Tk 1,333 crore and laid foundation stones of six other projects involving over Tk 375 crore.   The Prime Minister said the BNP-Jamaat clique is saying many things and giving an ultimatum to her party saying that the Awami League would not get the scope to flee. Referring to her return to the country twice ignoring the red eyes of the then governments in 1981 and 2007, she asked the BNP-Jamaat clique who wants to flee and said the AL never flees and it looks behind. “I returned to the country thinking about the people of the country,” she added. The AL president said her party is working with the people for their wellbeing as the organisation was formed at the hands of the Father of the Nation. “This organisation (AL) whenever comes to power, the fate of the people is changed.”   AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Presidium Members Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman and Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, AL Joint General Secretaries Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shariar Alam, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, AL organising secretary SM Kamal, AL central working committee member Nurul Islam Thandu and BCL president Saddam Hossain also spoke. Acting President of Rajshahi City Awami League Mohammad Ali Kamal and General Secretary Dablu Sarker respectively presided over and moderated the meeting.

Meeting in Bucharest this week, NATO foreign ministers are set to discuss more aid for Ukraine, plans to deter Russia on the military alliance's eastern flank and a number of practical issues. Bernd Riegert reports. It's no coincidence that Romania is where the foreign ministers of the 30 NATO countries are meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. They are there at the invitation of Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu to show support for the countries on NATO's eastern flank and in the Black Sea region. The area has become the new focus of NATO activity since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on February 24. Back in the spring, the alliance decided to establish four new battlegroups in Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania to combat the threat from Russia. Battlegroups have already been in place in the three Baltic states and Poland since 2017 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The four new groups, with battalions of between 900 and 1,300 personnel, are currently being formed. Several NATO countries, including Germany, are supplying them with permanent troops, while others are rotating and taking turns. These small units have limited combat power but hold important symbolic value. According to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the multinational deployment reflects the solidarity among NATO member states. "In response to Russia's war against Ukraine, we continue to strengthen our deterrence and defenses in the eastern part of the alliance," said Stoltenberg's spokesperson, Oana Lungescu. The NATO summit in Madrid this summer stipulated that the battlegroups could in future increase to brigade strength, with about 5,000 personnel. Combat groups and strategy in focus NATO's solidarity along its eastern flank was tested on November 15, when two people were killed by a missile in Poland, not far from the Ukrainian border. Nerve-wracking hours followed for NATO, until it became clear that the missile had probably been fired not by Russia but by the Ukrainian army. It proved to be an accident — but it raised the question of what would happen if Russia did, in fact, attack NATO territory. NATO would have to act decisively and honor its pledge of mutual defense for all member states. Stoltenberg tried to calm things by saying that the military alliance does not currently believe Russia is planning an attack on NATO allies. Nevertheless, the war being led by Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen as an unprecedented threat, especially in NATO's eastern states, the Baltics and Poland. The NATO foreign ministers will discuss the latest assessment of the situation at the meeting in Bucharest. Stoltenberg to urge allies not to flag in support for Ukraine They will also look at providing further military aid for Ukraine. Right now, Kyiv is most in need of missile defense and ammunition to repel Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure. Poland has rejected the proposal that it reinforce its air defense with Patriot missiles from the German Bundeswehr. It would be better to send the systems straight to Ukraine, said Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak, who had initially described the German army's offer as "interesting." Stoltenberg will once again urge the allies not to flag in their support for Ukraine, even though energy and food are becoming more expensive at home. If Russia gets its way, "authoritarian regimes around the world will learn that they can get what they want with brute force," he told NATO's parliamentary assembly in Madrid last week. "This would have direct consequences for our security. It will make the world more dangerous, and us more vulnerable." Gaps in infrastructure, logistical problems The French army is leading the new Romanian battlegroup, which is based in Cincu, in the region of Transylvania. For the past few months, around 500 French soldiers have been training with units from Poland, the Netherlands and the United States. The French MAMBA air defense system, designed to be used over short ranges, has been tested in Romania. "Exercises such as this one ensure that NATO forces are able to operate together and remain ready to respond to any threat from any direction," said NATO's Lungescu. During maneuvers in September, the French colonel leading the battlegroup said that right now the most important task was to set learning objectives and train for the future nature of warfare. Logistical shortcomings have also been identified. These are not unique to Romania, but are found in many NATO countries. The French army encountered difficulties and delays in getting its tanks to the battlegroup in Romania. First, there was a lack of suitable rail transport routes; then the road transport was halted in Germany because the Leclerc tanks were too heavy to comply with traffic regulations. Later, they were unable to cross a key bridge near Cincu in Romania because the bridge could not support the weight of the vehicles. Romania, a NATO member since 2004, has a relatively poor road network. This would restrict large military transports in the event of an emergency. About a quarter of Romania's roads are unpaved, and only 6% are highways. Both NATO and the European Union have launched programs to improve military mobility across the alliance's territory. The railroads need more freight cars that can carry heavy equipment, and the Baltic states still use the Russian track gauge. The system needs to be adapted to the narrower EU standard, but this would cost billions of euros. Poland is planning to build new bridges, highways and 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) of railroad track by 2034, partly in order to facilitate the redeployment of troops to its eastern border. French troops criticize 'rustic conditions' French troops have also complained of practical problems in Romania. In October, soldiers posted reports on social media detailing terrible accommodation and poor rations. They described rat infestations, garbage and unheated tents. Speaking to the French investigative platform Mediapart, the French general staff commented that there were often "rustic conditions" when a new unit was set up — eight months after the start of the operation in Romania. The Romanian Defense Ministry has said action has since been taken to remedy the situation and all the French soldiers' requirements have been met. There has also been trouble at the NATO air base near Constanta. The Romanian military prosecutor is investigating allegations that soldiers there collaborated with organized gangs to steal diesel and kerosene worth €2 million (€2.08 million). Spain sends fighter jets NATO has not only redeployed a combat group in Romania, it has also strengthened its air defenses. Shortly before the start of the foreign ministers' meeting, Spain announced that it would temporarily transfer eight F-18 fighter jets to Romania, along with 130 soldiers. The US also maintains part of the missile defense shield in Romania, which was originally intended to counter long-range ballistic missile attacks from Iran or North Korea. According to NATO diplomats in Brussels, checks are being performed to see how the defense shield might also be used to protect against Russian missiles.

On November 26th, 2022, H.E. Li Jiming, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, attended the Celebration of Civil Works Completion of the South Tube of “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel” held both near the Tunnel in Chattogram and virtually，and delivered a speech. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the celebration virtually form Gano Bhaban. Mr. Obaidul Quader, MP, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Mr. Khandker Anwarul Islam, Cabinet Secreaty, Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, PM’s Principal Secretary and other officials also attended the celebration. In her speech, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she attached great importance on this project. She recalled that during her visit to China in June 2014, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Chinese government for the construction of the tunnel, and later, the project was approved as a G-to-G project in the ECNEC meeting held on November 24, 2015. HPM Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping and she laid the foundation stone of the project on October 14, 2016. And she was very happy that the tunnel is almost completed now and she thanked all those who gave their effort and dedication to make the project successful from the bottom of her heart.  HPM also said that “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel” will play a significant role in bringing Bangladesh to the ranks of developed countries through modernization, simplification of communication system, development of industries and development of tourism industry. Ambassador Li pointed out in his speech that the tunnel has long been the dream of Bangladesh people and the center of attention for many. In Chinese President Xi Jinping’s video speech sent to Bangladesh last year on the occasion of the centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s golden Jubilee, this tunnel was specially mentioned as a symbol of joint efforts and mutual benefit with groundbreaking progress. Ambassador Li congratulated the successful completion of the civil works of the south tube of this tunnel. He pointed out that as the first underwater tunnel in both Bangladesh and South Asia, this tunnel will not only significantly optimize local transportation network, but also facilitate connectivity between Bangladesh and neighbor countries, demonstrating Bangladesh’s pivotal role in regional connectivity, as well as a hub in BRI countries.  Ambassador Li also said that China, as a faithful friend and reliable strategic partner, has made due contributions to Bangladesh’s record-setting achievements. Just as Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out in his video message that China and Bangladesh have been friendly neighboring countries since ancient times, and the friendship spanning over a thousand years was witnessed by the Silk Road. China is ready to work with Bangladesh to better align the two countries’ development strategies and jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road, so as to take the China-Bangladesh strategic partnership of cooperation to new heights. Mr. Obaidul Quader, MP, Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, also pointed out the importance of this tunnel on the development of the city of Chattogram, especially its “one city two town” plan.

 An order has been issued to complete all official works of the government offices on virtual platform in an attempt to implement ongoing travel curbs and tighter restrictions amid the severe corona virus situation across the country. “All the official works of government offices must have to operate on virtual platforms like e-document, e-tendering, e-mail, sms and whatsapp amid corona virus restrictions,” said an official circular here today. The cabinet division issued this instructions and it already has been sent to all concerned ministries and divisions. “Instructions have been given to keep closed all the government, semi-government, autonomous and non-government offices to check countrywide Covid-19 infections,” said the government circular. But, all the emergency services and offices remained open during the situation as an exception, it said. The official order also has asked to take necessary steps to accomplish all the official works of the government offices during this time on virtual platform. To check the spreading of novel corona virus, the government first enforced weeklong strict lockdown since July 1 and then it has been extended to July 14. Earlier, the cabinet division issued a gazette notification with 21 restrictions amid the ongoing coronavirus situation. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said her government has been working to ensure economic solvency of the grassroots people to build Bangladesh as a poverty-free country. “If we want to build a poverty free country, we have to bring economic solvency for the commoners. If we want to speed up industrialization alongside increasing the country’s trade and commerce, we have to create our own markets that require increased buying capacity of the masses,” she said. The Prime Minister made the comments while receiving donations for “House Construction Fund by Private Finance” and “Coronavirus Assistance Fund” joining a function virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital. PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus on behalf of the Prime Minister received the cheques for donations from various public and private organisations and individuals at the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital. Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, said that her party’s main principle is to bring economic solvency to the grassroots people and thus increase their purchasing capacity to free them from the curse of poverty. The Prime Minister said they have initiated the funds by giving Taka five crore from the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust aimed at giving every homeless and landless people a shelter and protect the country and the people from the coronavirus. She said, “The Coronavirus pandemic has been rattling the country. We have to save the country as well as its people from its wrath and we have been working for this.” Stating that the Father of the Nation gave an independent nation with a view to giving the people a developed country where they can get foods, clothes, accommodations, treatments and education, the Prime Minister said that her government has been working untiringly to build a prosperous and developed country as envisioned by Bangabandhu. The country had lost it dignity with assassination of the Father of the Nation on August 15, 1975 and none of the previous governments following the massacre did anything to restore its image, she said, adding that after assuming office, her party Awami League has been pursuing the ideology of Bangabandhu and made Bangladesh a developing nation. She added: “Today’s Bangladesh is a developing nation. We have to survive as a developing nation. We have to move ahead in the world with self dignity and keep our heads high as we’re a victorious nation”. The Prime Minister assured the business communities that they wouldn’t face any trouble in running their businesses since the Awami League is in power, so that they could contribute to marching the country ahead towards development. Referring to article 16 of the constitution, she said that public and private sectors alongside the cooperatives are similarly important to make the economy vibrant that can take the country forward. The organizations under Industries Ministries made contributions to the “House Construction Fund by Private Finance” are: Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Bangladesh Still and Engineering Corporation (BSEC), Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Center (BITAC), Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM), Department of Patents, Design and Trademarks (DPDT), Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB), National Productivity Organisation (NPO), Office of the Chief Inspector of Boilers and SME Foundation. Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) and National University under the Education Ministry while Chattogram Port Authority, Mongla Port Authority, Karnaphuli Shipbuilders Ltd and Three Angle Marine Ltd under Shipping Ministry, also contributed to the fund. The organizations under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd, Coal Power Generation Company Ltd, Ashuganj Power Generation Company Ltd, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd, West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd, Northern Electric Supply Company Ltd, Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh Ltd, Rural Power Company Ltd, BR Power Gen Company Ltd, North-West Power Generation Company Ltd, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) made contribution to the fund. Besides, Bangladesh Independent Power Producers’ Association (BIPPA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), S Alam Group, City Group, Meghna Group, Walton Group, Hosaf Group, PHG Group, Pran-RFL Group, Western Engineering Private Ltd, Bengal Group, Sheltec Group, Lather Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh, Envoy Group, Minister Group and Labib Group made contribution to the “Coronavirus Assistance Fund”. Md Jasim Uddin, chairman of Bengal Commercial Bank Ltd and President of the FBCCI, and Habib Ullah Dawn also made contributions to the fund. According to the available statistics of the PMO, different public and private organizations and individuals had earlier contributed over Taka 263 crore to the “House Construction Fund by Private Finance” and Taka 110 crore to the “Coronavirus Assistance Fund”. Source: BSS AH

President M Abdul Hamid today (Wednesday) urged politicians to take lessons from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s ideals and devote them selflessly in serving the country as he addressed the inauguration of the 10-day celebrations of Father of the Nation’s birth centenary and golden jubilee celebrations of 1971 Independence. “Take lessons from the ideals and works of Bangabandhu . . . and devote to serve the country and its people,” he said at the function at the National Parade Square. The President said contrary to examples set by the country’s founder politics in Bangladesh now seemed to have taken a different course with some opportunists seemed to have taken politics as a “profession” for narrow personal interests. President Hamid said politics and profession were different things while “politics” is an arena to work for country’s welfare and profession is the means to earn money for livelihood. Bangabandhu, he said, worked since his school life absolutely for the people’s welfare, caring little about his personal and family happiness or pleasure. The President simultaneously urged politicians to realise that a political party is bigger than an individual while the country is bigger than the party adding “we have to think about how much qualitative change has taken place in politics (in the past 50 years),” President Hamid said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also Bangabandhu’s elder daughter, presided over the function with visiting Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his spouse Fazna Ahmed joining it as guests of honour. Bangabandhu’s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana, President’s wife Rashida Khanam and National Professor Rafiqul Islam were on dais. President Hamid suggested that the invaluable memories and memorials of the Father of the Nation must be preserved so future generations could know the glory of the Bangali nation, their boundless courage and patriotism of their predecessors in the past. Highlighting the government’s development activities in line with Bangabandhu’s dream the President said the incumbent government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making relentless efforts to realize his dream. He said Bangladesh is moving forward at an irresistible pace on the highway of development attaining the status of a developing country in the globe. “If this progress of sustainable development continues, Bangladesh will turn into a developed and prosperous country by 2041 InshaAllah,” the head of the state hoped. The President expressed his gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Japanese premier Yoshihide Suga as they gave video messages on the occasion and wished their governments and peoples continued peace, progress and prosperity. The President also extended a cordial welcome to his Maldivian counterpart Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for attending the historic celebration of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary and the independence’s golden jubilee, saying, “The Maldives and Bangladesh share excellent ties of friendship and understanding, which have grown significantly during the recent years.” “The relations between two countries draw strength from the commonalities in faith, culture and values, and also from our collective stake on emerging issues with mutuality of interests,” President Hamid added. He said Maldivian President’s valuable speech reflected the close and friendly relationship between the two countries and he wished continued peace, progress and prosperity of the Island nation and its people. They enjoyed the cultural function there maintaining the health rules due to Covid-19 pandemic. Source: BSS AH

The newly elected Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said that attention will be paid so that no evil force can turn Dhaka city immoveable. He assured that all the problems will be solved with patience and endurance and said, works will be done for all irrespective of party and opinion. He said these at a press conference at his electoral office at Dhanmondi in the capital on Sunday afternoon. Taposh urged BNP candidates to work together for building a developed Dhaka. At that time he urged the candidates to remove all posters from Dhaka by tomorrow. Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said, BNP called hartal after going against the decision of Dhaka city dwellers. So people did not support the illogical hartal imposed by BNP. AH

Housing and Public Works Minister SM Rezaul Karim said, one television channel in the country is telling everyone’s tale showing respect to all, by not showing any niggardliness to anybody and by paying due honor to everyone. This channel (Rtv) has shown the brevity. For that reason Rtv has attained such popularity. He said these after attending the founding anniversary of Rtv on Thursday. SM Rezaul Karim said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking the country ahead. She has showed the courage of authorizing private television channels in the country. Television channels have been performing their responsibilities. Those are guiding the government. Those are criticizing the wrong tasks. The government is being benefitted in this way. He said, Rtv has passed a milestone in the history of country’s private television channels. It is a matter of jealousy to others. AH