A delegation of Korean Funding visited the Matlab North suspension bridge project in Chandpur. On Friday morning, November 28, representatives of Korean Funding, Mr. Bion, Mr.Park, Mr.Sin and interpreter Md. Bablu Bhuiyan, conducted a helicopter survey over the bridge area.
After the inspection, the helicopter landed and they exchanged views on the progress of the project in a short meeting held in the field adjacent to Kalipur Bazar in the presence of local leaders and activists and locals.
Speaking at the meeting, BNP nominee and party executive committee member Alhaj Dr. Mohammad Jalal Uddin said, “This bridge is not only Matlab, but also a long-standing dream of the people of Chandpur, Munshiganj, Lakshmipur, Noakhali and other southeastern regions.
If the project is implemented, the communication system of the region will change. This bridge will bring new momentum to the country’s economy. There will be major changes in industrial areas, tourism and employment. The bridge will connect the Matlab-Gajariya region to the capital quickly.’
Other speakers included Barrister Obaidur Rahman Tipu, Joint General Secretary of the Central Krishak Dal, District BNP Vice President Professor Dr. Shamim Ahmed, Former Vice President of the Central Sechchhasebak Dal Azharul Haque Mukul, BNP leader Anisur Awal,among others. The meeting was moderated by Upazila BNP Organizing Secretary Mia Manjur Amin Swapan.
Chengarchar Municipality BNP President Nannu Mia Prodhan, Upazila BNP Organizing Secretary Tofail Patwari, Upazila Jubo Dal Acting Convener Rasheduzzaman Tipu, Upazila Sechchhasebak Dal Convener Md. Shahjalal, Upazila Chhatra Dal Convener Nurul Huda Faizi, Member Secretary Joynal Patwari Pinu and other leaders and activists of the constituent organizations.
It is learned that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on October 31, 2023. The total cost of the project has been set at Tk 4,783 crore, a large part of which will be financed by the EDCF of South Korea’s Exim Bank. The interest rate of the loan is only 0.01%, the repayment period is 40 years and the grace period is 15 years, which is one of the most affordable foreign financing for any bridge project in Bangladesh.
In addition to the 1.85-km main bridge, 7.51-km connection road, 2.2-km river control, 1 toll plaza and 2 weighing stations, and 2.1-km interchange (on the D-1 section of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway) will be constructed. The vertical clearance of the bridge is 25 meters, which is very suitable for the future shipping system.
Earlier, during a site visit to the bridge on November 6, Secretary of the Bridge Division and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Bridges Bhikharoddaula Bhulu Chowdhury and senior authorities of the concerned ministry.
If the bridge is built, the direct travel time between the capital and Dhaka, Chandpur, Lakshmipur, Noakhali and Bhola will be halved, the pressure on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway will be reduced, there will be a big change in trade and tourism in the southeastern region, land prices will increase and new industrial areas will be developed, and there will be positive growth in GDP (up to 0.23%).
Staff Correspondent
28 Nov 2025