The year 2023 has been marked with Awami League-led government’s efforts to inaugurate big development projects – finished partially or completely – ahead of the 12th national polls scheduled on January 7.
At least eight large-scale projects on transportation and communication development, along with numerous other medium-scale projects in different sectors were inaugurated in the last four months, keeping the national election in mind to attract voters to the AL-led alliance.
Construction of these projects has been continuing for years, and many of those saw both time and cost overruns. Among the inaugurated projects, some are half finished, and have been opened partially to the public.
The large-scale projects include Karnaphuli underwater tunnel, Dhaka elevated expressway, Metro line-6 (from Agargaon to Motijheel section), Dhaka-Bhanga, Khulna-Mongla, Akhaura-Agartala and Chattogram-Cox's Bazar rail lines, and third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Project, and Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel, Rooppur nuclear power plant, the inauguration of 140 bridges, 12 overpasses, and an automatic Vehicle Inspection Centre (VIC).
Abdur Razzaque, an Awami League presidium member and the agriculture minister had recently said, “People celebrated the government's achievements and progress throughout the year 2023.
“The inauguration of the projects have boosted Awami League’s image. There is no fault in opening projects targeting the upcoming election.”
In November this year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a public meeting urged the people to vote for her party to help finish the incomplete development projects.
“Election is coming, and I want you to vote for boat [electoral symbol of Awami League] so we can serve you again and complete the unfinished works,” she said while addressing a public meeting at Matarbari Thermal Power Plant Project’s township ground.
Underwater tunnel in Ctg
Bangladesh opened a new horizon in hassle-free road communication on October 28 this year when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first-ever underwater tunnel amid festivities.
The 3.32 km tunnel named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman runs under the Karnaphuli River making another dream project into a reality.
This tunnel, also the first of its kind in South Asia, promises to fast-track the country’s road connectivity, spur the economy on, and promote tourism. It has two tubes and four lanes.
Currently, vehicles are crossing the river through the tunnel in five minutes, creating a tangible impact reducing traffic congestion in the port city.
Construction work on a Tk 10.374 crore tunnel officially started in December 2017 with joint funding of the governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G). The total length of the tunnel is 3.32 km, with a 5.35 km approach road and a 740 metre bridge.
Partial opening of Dhaka Elevated Expressway
In September this year, the prime minister inaugurated the much-awaited 11.5km Dhaka Elevated Expressway's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport-Farmgate section for traffic.
The length of this section is about 11.5 km. There are 15 ramps for boarding. Out of these, two ramps at Banani and Mohakhali will be opened later. The maximum speed limit for traffic on the expressway will be 60 km per hour.
This elevated expressway is being constructed starting from the south of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport – going through Kawla, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, and Jatrabari – to Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Kutubkhali.
Agargaon-Motijheel metro rail service
Commuting from Uttara to Motijheel now takes only 38 minutes, a wonder by Dhaka standards, after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much-anticipated metro rail service in November.
The Uttara to Agargaon section of the metro was opened in the previous year.
There are seven stations on the Agargaon to Motijheel part of Dhaka Metro Rail. These are: Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, TSC, Secretariat/Press Club and Motijheel. Currently all stations except Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar are waiting to be opened.
The cost of the country’s first-ever metro rail project stands at Tk 33,472 crore. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided Tk 19,719 crore in the form of a loan to support the project, while the Government of Bangladesh funded the remaining amount.
The main construction work of the project started in 2017.
Cox’s Bazar rail connection opens new era
The much-awaited 102 km Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar Rail Line in Chattogram at a cost of Tk 18,034.47 crore opened a new era in rail connectivity in the country. Currently, one non-stop train is being operated on this route and one will be added from January 1.
The service gained much popularity among the tourists. These trains are taking approximately 8 hours and ten minutes to reach Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, stopping at two stations – Dhaka airport and Chattogram.
A spectacular Cox’s Bazar Railway Station has been built on 29 acres of land in the Hajipara area of Jhelongja Union, seven kilometres east-north of Cox's Bazar Sadar.
As many as 46,000 people can travel through this station a day, and tourists can spend time at the beach while keeping their luggage inside station lockers.
Dhaka-Bhanga rail service a milestone
The prime minister inaugurated the Dhaka-Bhanga section of the rail link between Dhaka and Jashore through the Padma Bridge on October 10.
Bangladesh Railway is building 172km-long new rail tracks from Dhaka to Jashore under Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, as its 82 km part connecting Dhaka and Bhanga is functional now. The remaining portion connecting Jashore is likely to be launched in June next year.
Dhaka-Bhanga rail service was inaugurated one year and two months after opening the landmark Padma Bridge in June last year.
On October 14 last year, the prime minister inaugurated the construction work of the rail link between Dhaka and Jashore under the “Padma Bridge Rail Link Construction Project.”
The project cost is estimated at Tk 39,246.80 crore, while Exim Bank of China is providing Tk 21,036.70 crore as loan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the long-awaited Khulna-Mongla Port and the Akhaura-Agartala rail lines on November 1.
The 7.9 km rail line from Akhaura to Agartala, as well as a new 64 km Khulna-Mongla Port line aim at accelerating passengers and goods transport with India and other regional countries. The combined cost of the Khulna-Mongla link rail line project and the Akhaura-Agartala rail link project is Tk 4,704 crore, of which Tk 3,335 crore was mobilised by India as loans and grants.
The Khulna-Mongla rail link line will help operate trains from Mongla to some of the western destinations of Bangladesh Railways, and also to Dhaka via Khulna and Padma Bridge.
Soft opening of HSIA's 3rd terminal
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina softly opened the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in October this year with the slogan “Connecting Dreams to Reality,” towards making Bangladesh an aviation hub in the region and around the world.
The third terminal project, costing Tk 21,300 crore, commenced on December 28, 2019. The government contributed Tk 5,000 crore, while the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided the remaining funding.
Upon full-fledged operation of the terminal, Dhaka airport's annual passenger and cargo handling capacity is expected to double.
