Verdict in grenade attack case to be neutral: Quader

Awami League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader said on Saturday the verdict in August 21 grenade attack case will be delivered neutrally, report agencies.

"BNP is involved in the killings. No matter, who the killers are and how powerful they are, they won't be pardoned. Anyone who will be convicted in the trial must get the punishment," he said while visiting the construction site of a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said 24 per cent construction works on the tunnel have been completed.

Deputy project director (admin) Dr Anupam Shaha showed tunnel boring machine (TBM) to the minister.

The four-lane tunnel under the river is being constructed aiming to build 'One City Two Towns' in light with Sanghai of China and Hong Kong, to strengthen the role of Chattogram as the centre of communications, develop the communications system of Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar national highway and create a link with the Asia Highway Network.

The main tunnel will be 3.4km long with two tubes. A 5.35-km approach road on the west and east sides of the tunnel and 727-metre overbridge will connect Anwara upazila with the port city, said the project director.

China’s Exim Bank has provided soft loan around Tk 90 billion out of Tk 200 billion for the project while Chinese firm ‘China Communication Construction Company Ltd (CCCC) has been appointed as consultant for construction of the four-lane tunnel, the source said.

The digging work of the tunnel will start in October after putting the TBM in operation, he said.