Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said the government has a plan to build a tunnel beneath the Padma River at Daulatdia-Paturia point instead of constructing a bridge to sustain navigability of the river.
His statement came amid speculations that the government will build another bridge over the river after completing the ongoing bridge project, report BSS and UNB.
The Awami League general secretary made the comments while addressing a seminar on "Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla: Sheikh Hasina's Struggle for Development, Khulna to Chattogram on Uninterrupted Dreamy Highway" at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).
Awami League's Science and Technology Affairs Sub-Committee arranged the seminar.
Quader, also Awami League General Secretary, said only construction of roads will not be enough, rather proper maintenance of those is very important.
Turning to politics, he said BNP's political stance in the name of Vision 2030 before the previous national polls is now in 'deep freeze'.
He said Awami League's vision is not like that of BNP. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will do everything required to implement her visions -2021, 2041 and Delta Plan 2100 as every plan remains under the consideration of the premier, he added.
The minister said BNP's counter vision will never see the light of the day as the party has become isolated from people because of its negative politics.
AL's Science and Technology Affairs Sub-Committee Chairman Prof Md Hossain Mansur chaired the seminar while the sub-committee member secretary and AL Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Bangladesh Bridge Authority Chief Engineer Quazi Mohammad Ferdous, IEB President Engineer Nurul Huda and Roads and Highways Department Additional Chief Engineer AKM Manir Hossain Pathan spoke on the occasion, among others.
Prof Dr AFM Saiful Amin presented the keynote paper in the seminar.