$705m deal inked with China for Karnaphuli tunnel

Staff Correspondent: Bangladesh on Tuesday signed an agreement with China to build a 3.5 kilometers long tunnel over the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges inked the deal with Chinese Communications Construction Company (CCCC) in the Chinese capital of Beijing on the day.

The Ministry sources confirmed the deal signing to media this afternoon.

Bridges Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh while CCCC Chairman Liu Qitao on behalf of the Chinese company.

Meanwhile, Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader and Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantang attended in the agreement signing ceremony.

The 3.5 km tunnel will cost $705 billion.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, however, said, earlier that the tunnel would be connected to the proposed Asian Highway and to Chittagong-Cox`s Bazar Highway.

Risingbd/ Dhaka/ Jun 30, 2015/ Shafiq/ Nasim/ Mahfuz