Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated the longest bridge in the Chittagong Hill Tracts over the Chengi River in Rangamati.
The premier opened the bridge to traffic by joining an event in Rangamati through video conference from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital on Wednesday.
The 500-metre long and 10.2-meter wide bridge in Naniarchar upazila was constructed by the 20 Engineer Construction Battalion (ECB) of the 34th Engineering Construction Brigade of Bangladesh Army.
Approximately Tk227 crore was spent on the bridge and the approach roads.
After the inauguration program, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the construction of the bridge has brought the “Chittagong Hill Tracts Treaty” one step closer to being implemented.
“The Awami League signed the agreement in 1997, and it continues to operate to this day.” The project was constructed to improve communication from Rangamati district to other districts, facilitate trade, and make it easier to market products, the prime minister added.
Rangamati MP Dipankar Talukdar, who was present at the inauguration program said: “The Naniarchar bridge will have a positive effect on the economy of the district and nation.”
On November 16, 2016, the ECB started the construction of the bridge under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army.The premier also inaugurated the 1.8-meter long connecting road from Balukhali in Cox’s Bazar to Ghumdhum in the Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban. Total cost of the project is Tk79 crore.
