Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the much-awaited Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River.
She will inaugurate the tunnel by unveiling a plaque on the west bank of Karnaphuli river after 10 am on Saturday (October 28).
Later at 11 am another plaque will be unveiled at Anowara upazilla end. Sheikh Hasina will then address a public meeting at the Korean EPZ (KEPZ) ground in Anowara.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will preside over the tunnel inauguration ceremony. Prime Minister will release a special commemorative postage stamp, inauguration day envelope and a special seal to mark the inauguration.
It is reported that the tunnel will be opened for vehicular traffic from 6 am on October 29, the day after the inauguration.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, 17 thousand 260 vehicles can use the tunnel every day.
According to project details, the length of the entire route is 9.39 kilometers (5.83 mi), making the tunnel 3.32 kilometers (2.06 mi) long and 10.80 meters (35.4 ft) in diameter. It was built at a cost of Tk. 10,374 crore. About half of it was financed by China's Exim Bank. It will take 3 to 3.5 minutes to pass through the 3.32 km long tunnel.