Alok Acharja

Our dream, Bangabandhu Tunnel is going to open for vehicle after waiting eagerly. There has been a radical change in the communication system. First, the Padma Bridge and at the end of the year, the Metrorail, and the opening of various roads, highways, bridges, expressways, have made a visible change in the communication system of Bangladesh. Now Bangladesh is waiting to see the inauguration of Bangabandhu Tunnel.

A confidence has come into us. We are moving forward with a visionary leadership. The Awami League government has created development indicators one after another in front of the nation by dealing with criticism, unfavorable economic situation, politics. Another sign of it is the Bangabandhu Tunnel. We will go further from here. Most of its construction work has already been completed. According to experts, this tunnel will contribute significantly to the economy not only of Chittagong, but of the entire country.

Cox's Bazar, Saint Martin, Bandarban, one of the main attractive tourist centers of the country will contribute to the growth of tourists. The longest river in Chittagong is Karnaphuli and Chittagong is the important city and commercial capital of the country. The economic activity of the country is accelerated around this city.

The country's import-export activities are carried out and the seaport located here is the heart of the country's economy. The Karnaphuli River flows 170 km southwest through hilly Chittagong and Chittagong to join the Bay of Bengal. Also, ease of communication with Chittagong will increase the speed of bringing in raw materials, trade, which will contribute to the country's GDP. According to media sources, the Bangubandhu tunnel, built at a cost of about 11 thousand crores, is the first and only underwater tunnel in Bangladesh. The length of the 9.3 km long tunnel under the river is about 3.5 km. In 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping and our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly laid the foundation stone of this project.

Through this tunnel, 'One City, Two Towns' will be developed. It is located in Shanghai, China. And now in our country. Due to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, the economic activities of the Chittagong region will increase greatly. As a result, the economy of the entire country will accelerate. So we can be proud. The project was approved in November 2015. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping laid the foundation stone of the project on October 14, 2016. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of Bangabandhu Tunnel on February 24, 2019. Initially, its cost was estimated at 8 thousand 446.64 crores. Later the cost increased to 10 thousand 374.42 crores. Among these, Enmi Bank of China is giving Tk 5 thousand 913.19 crores at 2 percent interest. Bangladesh government is giving the rest of the money.

We started from almost nothing after independence. Pakistanis systematically killed our country's roads, infrastructure and even talented people. From there Bangladesh slowly turned around holding the hand of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This is Bangladesh. Bangladesh is indomitable to move forward. Naturally, like the Padma Bridge and Metrorail, it will not only speed up the communication system but also various industries which will boost employment. And time will save. When this tunnel is opened it will take only 5 to 6 minutes to cross the Karnaphuli river which is truly a state-of-the-art in the communication system of Bangladesh and a unique achievement even among the SAARC countries which is a well thought out and planned dedication of the present government. Dream Metrorail was launched as a milestone in the development of communication system.

After the dream Padma Bridge, Metrorail, hundreds of bridges in remote areas of the country, inauguration of roads - in a word, unprecedented development has been achieved in the communication system in 2022. After Padma Bridge, 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel' is bringing new horizons in economic potential. It will greatly contribute to investment, economy, industrialization, urbanization, communication, employment and tourism sectors. Especially this tunnel will be a bridge to advance Bangladesh in international trade. Already, new industries have been set up in the area around the tunnel and commercial banks have opened new branches. If it starts, the perimeter of Chittagong city will increase. New industrial factories are being built on the south bank of the Karnaphuli river by this tunnel center. Various financial institutions are being developed. Small and large businesses. As a result, the tunnel, which started running on the eve of the global recession, will give momentum to the economy.

The economy is gaining momentum around Metrorail. Just as the Padma bridge is changing the image of the whole country including the life of the South. Bangabandhu Tunnel will be like that too. Modernization, optimization and sustainability of a country's communication system is a prerequisite for economic development. That is, the advanced communication system of a country has a direct impact on the economy of that country. Backward regions generally refer to those regions areas where communication is not good. Can't be reached at the right time, goods can't be transported at a convenient time, there is no favorable environment for setting up industries and unemployment rate is also high due to these reasons. Now it can be seen that the areas adjacent to the tunnel will develop more infrastructure than before. Modern facilities will be added. Because of the development of communication system and of course speed.

Efforts are being made to make today's Bangladesh a developed country in 2041. That country will be a smart digital country. Our education, economy will all be digital and smart. This includes communication systems. Road, rail and waterway traffic will be risk and trouble free. That is, smart communication system will be developed. People spend a large amount of their daily time in vehicles, commuting. Every day people are running from home to office or educational institution or any other work. The smart Bangladesh that we have started to dream of will not have these images. Connectivity is central to economic development.

When it becomes operational, business and trade will accelerate in Chittagong. Many people will have an income stream. No time will be wasted. Works will be done on time. In other words, the economy will benefit here as well. People's lives will be easy. We have before us a picture of a country moving forward by the hand of the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is based on taking decisions on the development of the country's communication system through various projects. This far-sighted thinking will surely make Bangladesh a developed smart state. After Padma Setu, Metrorail, Bangabandhu Tunnel is going to be one of its examples. Bangladesh is now waiting for the momentous moment of opening the Bangabandhu Tunnel. Soon this dream will come true. And for that we are proud as a nation. We are proud of a united forward nation.

The writer is a, Essayist and columnist, Pabna