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Cultural Heritage and Festivals of Bangladesh

Although Bangladesh emerged as an independent state relatively recently in 1971 through a

blood-spattered liberation war, the country forms part of the ancient and historic region of
Bengal in the Eastern part of the Subcontinent. The civilization of the country dates back
over four millennia, to the Copper Age.
The culture and tradition of Bangladesh are drawn from people‟s faith, ethnic root, thoughts
and aspirations and creativity, and the passion for life and nature. Unique geographic
location, abundance in resources and natural splendour of the country have throughout the
history attracted traders, travellers, religion preachers from outside to visit and settle in this
land. Such continued interactions with people of diverse race, civilization and cultural
background have helped Bangladesh further enrich its culture and civilization, still
maintaining the distinctive indigenous elements. Similarly, the settlers have nurtured their
own culture and civilization in this land by generations. As a result, Bangladesh today enjoys
a diversified colourful cultural heritage.
Important Archaeological Sites
The cultural heritage of Bangladesh is substantiated in numerous vestiges of ancient periods
as well as in remnants of pre-historic urban settlements and other magnificent monuments of
different era spread all over the country. So far, 448 sites have been enlisted as national
heritage. Notable heritage sites in Bangladesh include among other the following:

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Pre-historic city in Wari-Batashar: The twin village Wari-Batashar in the district of
Narsingdi dates back to 450 BC. According to archaeologists, Wari-Batashar was a
commercial city represents the most ancient civilization in the region. Before the discovery
of Wari-Batashar, it was widely held view that urbanization started much later in Bengal
region. Excavation of the site has so far unearthed a road, a water reservoirs, small rooms,
punched marked silver coins, earthen pots, iron artifacts, hand axes, semi-precious stone
beads of early historic period.
Mahastangarh in Bogra: Earliest relics of the historic age are Mahasthangarh in northern
district of Bogra district. Mahasthangarh was built as provincial capital in 3rd century BC by
Pundra dynasty and the city continued flourishing during the successive ruling dynasties. The
wide range of relics recovered from this site has been put on display at a museum in the site.
Sompur Bhuddhist Mahavihara at Paharpur: The most striking Buddhist monument is
the colossal monastery at Paharpur known as Sompur Mahavihara in the northern district of
Naogaon. This is the second largest single monastery in the south of the Himalayas. The
Monastery was built the second king of Pala dynasty Dharmapala in the 8th century AD.
According to Tibetan sources, Sompur Mahavihara in Paharpur was one of the five greatest
Buddhist monasteries of ancient time. Sompur Mahavihara has been designated as a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Many other smaller monasteries and stupas have been
exposed at in Dinajpur, Savar, and in the Lalmai-Mainamati hill range in Comilla.
Sixty-domed Mosque in Bagerhat: The majestic Sixty-domed mosque, popularly known as
Shait-Gumbuj Masjid, is the southern district of Bagerhat is the largest mosque of the
Sultanate period in the country of Sultanate period. The same is surrounded by many other
mosques and tombs of same period (Bibi Begni Mosque, Khan Jahan‟s tomb, Nine-domed
Mosque, etc). The mosque, built by saint ruler Khan Jahan Ali in mid 15th century AD, has
been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Soto Sona Mosjid in Chapai Nawabganj: Soto Sona Mosjid (small golden mosque,) in the
northern district of Chapai Nawabganj is another landmark monument of Sultanate period
(built by Sultan Hussain Shah between 1493 to 1519). Stone carving, brick-setting, terracotta,
gilding and glazed tiles were used in decorating the building.
Lalbagh Fort: The impressive Lalbagh Fort is a 17th century Mughal fort complex that still
stands proudly in the bank of river Buriganga in Dhaka. Mughal Prince Muhammad Azam
Shah, the third son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, started the work of the fort in 1678
during this vice-royalty in Bengal and stayed in the fort for 15 months. The famous tomb of
Pari Bibi, daughter of Shaista Khan who succeeded Prince Azam Khan, constitutes one of the
three major components of the fort complex.
Ahsan Manjil Palace: It is one of the most significant architectural monuments of
Bangladesh. The majestic palace was the residential palace and the seat of Dhaka Nawab
family. It was built in the banks of the Buriganga river during the period from 1859 to 1872.
Some portions of the palace complex were built earlier in the 18thcentury by the landlord of
Jamalpur.

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Curzon Hall of Dhaka University: It is a British colonial period building of majestic
architectural design. The building was primarily intended for town hall and is named after
Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India who laid the foundation stone in 1904. After establishment
of Dhaka University in 1921, it became the base of university‟s science faculty.
Kantajew Mandir in Dinajpur: It is a late-medieval Hindu temple, built by Maharaja Pran
Nath in the northern district of Dinajpur. Its construction started in 1704 and completed in
1722. It boasts one of the greatest examples of terracotta architecture in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh national parliament complex in Dhaka: The national parliament building is a
modern architectural splendour. The 200 acres complex, designed by Architect Luis Kahn, is
one of the largest legislative complexes in the world. The building was featured prominently
in the film „My Architect’ detailing the career and legacy of its architect, Luis Kahn. Author
Robert McCarter has described the building as one of the most significant buildings of the
twentieth century. The construction of the complex began in 1961 but completed in January
1982.
Literature, paintings and performing art of Bangladesh
Arts and Paintings: Bangladesh takes pride in its glorious tradition of Art and literature.
The tradition of painting started for religious purpose in Hindu temples and Viharas. Ancient
terracotta and pottery testify our artistic ability and aesthetic taste. Zainul Abedin, who
became famous for his paintings on the Bengal famine of 1943, is considered as the father of
the modern art movement in Bangladesh. Many of the Bangladeshi painters have earned
international reputation for their outstanding artistic abilities.
Literature: A collection of lyrical poems composed by the Buddhist Monks known
as ‘Charjapada’ is believed to be the earliest specimen of Bengali literature. The earliest
available specimen of Charjapada is of about a thousand years old. During the mediaeval
period, Bengali Literature developed considerably with the patronage of Muslim rulers. The
era of modern Bengali Literature began in the late nineteenth century, in which the Nobel
Laureate Rabindranath Tagore played a pioneer role. Tagore won the Nobel Prize for
literature in 1913. Kazi Nazrul Islam, Michael Madhusudan Datta. Sarat Chandra
Chattopadhaya, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhaya, and many other succeeding writers of
outstanding calibre have immense contributions in enriched the modern Bengali Literature.
Music and dance: Various forms of folk and tribal music and dance are of indigenous
origin. Lyrics of the folk songs rooted into the tradition and spirituality. Most prevalent forms
of folk songs and music include: Bhatiali, Baul, Marfati, Murshidi, and Bhawaiya. Lyricists
like Lalon Shah, Hason Raja, Kangal Harinath, Romesh Shill, Abbas Uddin have enriched
the folk songs of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has developed its own distinct dancing syles,
although a few dancing styles of the adjacent north-eastern India
like monipuri and santal dances are widely practiced in Bangladesh. Classical and modern
songs and dances are equally popular in Bangladesh.
Drama and film: The theatre in Bangladesh is believed to have its origin in the 4thcentury
AD in the form of Sanskrit drama. The folk theatre of Bangladesh has developed in distinct
forms, which can be categorized into (i) the narrative, (ii) the song-and-dance, (iii) the
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processional, and (iv) the supra-personae. In present day theatre of Bangladesh, the influence
of European theatre and indigenous folk culture is very prominent. The culture of theatre has
great significance in the history as well as in daily lives of Bangladeshis. The theatre
performance had vehemently inspired the culture and language based independence
movements.
Bangladesh has a very strong film industry. Bangladesh started its journey of own film
production with the silent film “Bless the World” by Jotish Banerjee, which was released on
8 November 1919. The first full-length feature film with sound was produced by Abdul
Jabbar Khan in the then East Pakistan (present Bangladesh) was Mukh O Mukhosh (face and
musk), which was released on 3 August 1956. In 2013, Bangladesh produced about 120 films
to emerge as the 10th largest film producing country in the world. Bangladeshi film industry
is the second largest film industry in South Asia after Bollywood and is the ninth largest in
Asia in terms of revenue. In addition to providing entertainments to mass people, films
industry also serves as powerful tool for creating public awareness in Bangladesh.
Festivals and Celebrations
Bangladesh is a country of colourful celebrations. We celebrate our faith, life, liberty, nature,
elation, and achievements round the year through a wide variety of fairs and festivals,
organized with inexorable enthusiasm and intricate details. Some Bengali fairs and festivals
have recorded history of over 2000 years. Festivals in Bangladesh fall into four major
categories: religious festivals, national events, cultural festivals, tribal festivals. Although a
few festivals are primarily meant for particular sections of the population, all the festivals
have now attained universal reach throughout the country.
Basanta Utsab: It is the first day of spring, celebrated in a very colourful manner throughout
the country on the 1st day of Falgun, the 11th month of Bangla calender, which falls in mid-
February of Gregorian calendar. On this occasion, people wear colour dresses and colourful
fairs and cultural programmes organized. Women usually wear yellow sharis and decorate
themselves with floral ornaments. Exchange of greetings and gifts is common on the Day.
Nabanna Utsab & Poush Mela: The Nabanna Utsab (new harvest festival) is celebrated
predominantly by rural agrarian population of Bangladesh in Poush, the first month of winter
season of the Bengali calendar. With a full granary for the winter, it is the time for the
agrarian rural Bengalis to relax and engage in merriment and cultural activities. A traditional
Poush Mela (traditional fair) would essentially include a Jatrapala (a traditional theatre),
traditional dance and music concerts, along with a wide variety of rice-milk-molasses based
delicacies called pitha.
Pohela Boishakh: It is the first day of the Bengali calendar which falls on 14th April of
Gregorian calendar. Pohela Boishakh is an integral part of Bangladesh‟s cultural heritage. It
is closely linked with the rural life. People start this day with new hope thoroughly scrubbing
the failures and sorrows of the preceding year. Businessmen, particularly in rural areas, close
their old book of accounts and open new ones and treat their customers with traditional
sweets to renew the business relationship. People, dressed in colourful traditional clothes,
visit their friends, relative and neighbours to exchange greetings. On this day, Fairs are
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arranged in many parts of the country where various agricultural products, traditional
handicrafts, toys, cosmetics, as well as various kinds of food and sweets are sold. The fairs
also provide entertainment with singers, dancers and traditional plays and songs. Pohela
Boishakh is also celebrated in grand ways in capital Dhaka and other major cities of
Bangladesh.
Baul Mela: Every year, in the month of Falgun (February to March), “Lalon Smaran
Utshab” (Lalon memorial festival) is held in the shrine of Lalon in Kushtia, where Bauls
(itinerant mystic folk singers) and devotees of Lalon from Bangladesh and overseas come to
perform and highlight the mystics of Fakir Lalon Shah, the undisputed king of Baul music.
Baul music celebrates celestial love in earthly terms.
Weddings: Bangladeshi people consider wedding as one of the most important episode of
human life. As a result, people usually make every effort to make their wedding ceremony
exemplary and memorable. Bangali wedding include a series of rituals and ceremonies with
elaborate details spanning over several days. Wedding is a festive occasion not only for the
friends and relatives of the bride and groom; it rather involves the entire communities
concerned. Main wedding traditionally takes place at bride‟s palace, which includes a grand
feast. The wedding ceremony concludes with a reception hosted by the groom‟s side.
Amor Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day: Amor Ekushey(immortal
21st) is celebrated throughout the country on 21st February each year to commemorate and
pay homage to the language martyrs who sacrificed their lives on 21st February 1952 for the
right to mother language, Bangla. The programme usually includes: laying of floral wreaths
at Shahid Minar (martyrs monuments) through ceremonial processions in very early hours of
the day, special prayers, discussion meetings, cultural events, etc. To promote Bangla
language and literature, a month-long book fair is organized in Dhaka in February every year.
Similar fairs are organized in different parts of the country. The Day has been declared
International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999. Since then, the Day is being
celebrated regularly all over the world to uphold the importance of all mother languages of
the world.
Independence and National Day: The nation celebrates its Independence and National Day
on 26th March with enthusiasm and patriotic zeal. It commemorates the country‟s declaration
of independence from Pakistan by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman in the late hours of 25th March 1971. Independence Day celebration includes
ceremonial laying of floral wreath at the National Mausoleum at Savar by the Hon‟ble
President and Hon‟ble Prime Minister to pay homage to the valiant freedom fighters,
colourful parades, political speeches, fairs, concerts, and many other public and private
events celebrating the history and traditions of Bangladesh. TV and radio stations broadcast
special programs and patriotic songs. Main streets and landmark buildings are decorated with
national flags and lightings. On the eve of Independence Day, the prestigious Independence
Award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens. Bangladesh diplomatic missions around the
world organize special programme to mark the Day.

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Victory Day: Bangladesh celebrates the Victory Day on 16 December to commemorate the
ultimate victory of the Allied Forces over Pakistani forces in the Bangladesh Liberation War
in 1971 marking the of nine-month liberation war and the official secession of East Pakistan
into Bangladesh. The festivity and way of celebration is almost similar to that for the
Independence Day.
Eid ul-Fitr: It is the biggest Muslim festival celebrated in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the
world by Muslim people with due solemnity and fervour on the day following the end of the
month of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Big congregations are held at the Eidgahs (open
fields) and mosques in the morning. The biggest congregation of the country is held at
Sholakia in Kishoreganj, where about half a million people gathers for Eid prayers. On this
day, people dressed in new clothes visit each other‟s houses and exchange greetings. In rural
areas, Eid fairs are organized. Cultural, sports and other social events like: boat race, puppet
shows, are also organized to promote friendship and solidarity among people. A colourful
Eid procession is organized in old Dhaka.
Eid ul-Adha: It is another important religious festival of the Muslim in Bangladesh and
elsewhere. The way of celebration of Eid ul-Adha is almost similar to that of Eid ul-Fitr. The
major difference is the sacrifice of domestic animals on this occasion, to commemorate the
historic sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (A), which symbolizes utmost loyalty and complete
submission to Allah. Eid-ul-Adha is usually observed on the 10thday of Arabic lunar calendar
month of Zilhaj.
Durga Puja: It is the biggest festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. It is celebrated
throughout the country in autumn and the entire population in fact gets involved in the grand
festivity. It is the celebration of Goddess Durga‟s triumph over demon Mahisasura. In some
places of Bangladesh, it is celebrated in the spring as Basanti Puja. On the fourth day of
worship, the idol is immersed in water through colourful possession. In Dhaka, the big
celebrations are held at Dhakeswari Temple and at the Ram Krishna Mission.
Buddha Purnima: Buddha Purnima, the birth anniversary of Lord Bhuddha, is the most
important festival of the Buddhists and is celebrated throughout the country with religious
fervour and enthusiasm on full moon day in the month of April. This is a public holiday in
Bangladesh. On this day, various religious rituals at Buddhist temples and monasteries are
observed. Buddhism is one of the most ancient religions of Bangladesh, which is home to a
few most important oldest Buddhist monasteries in Asia.
Christmas: Christmas is celebrated every year throughout Bangladesh with pomp and
enthusiasm. Christmas in Bangladesh starts with singing of carols in churches from the first
week of December. Churches, homes, city hotels are decorated with Christmas trees and
colourful lightings.

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Impact of the Metro Rail Project on the economic growth of Bangladesh

The Metro Rail project is going to offer indirect benefits to the country with significantly
lower risks and is likely to push the outputs of the manufacturing sectors up. This will
increase these sectors‟ contribution to the GDP and reduce the relative contribution of
agriculture in the long run

If all Dhaka dwellers, 22.50 million people, use the Metro Rail services, savings will be as
high as Tk73,575 million or Tk70,357.5 crore.

Bangladesh has had tremendous economic growth in the recent past. The annual
growth rate of the nation was as high as 7% (on average) during the pre-Covid-19 era
and around 6% (on average) during Covid-19, despite the tremendous exogenous
macroeconomic shock induced by the pandemic, which pulled down the economic
growth of the entire world.

The sustainability of the economy has been tested time and again by natural and manmade
disasters. It has also been affected by external economic shocks that originated in foreign
economies and passed through to the national economy.

Despite these unfavourable circumstances, the country has been adept in identifying its
infrastructural needs in order to catalyse the process of holistic macro and socio-economic
developments, thus turning the country into a positive example to follow.

Infrastructural excellence defines the modes, effectiveness and efficiency of transportation

which is tagged with the internal capacity of every business to offer its goods and services
effectively to the clients.

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As mentioned in the 8th Five Year plan of the country, the public sector spending priorities,
which include development expenditure, healthcare priorities, education, power, energy,
transportation, agriculture as well as rural infrastructure and integrated water resource
management (excluding social security and non-development expenditure) has seen an
increase in terms of GDP, taking the target to 17% of GDP in FY 2025 from its 2010's value
of just 8.4%.

Therefore, it is only rational that these investments are chosen carefully to ensure that the
country's ability to withstand any sudden shocks arising from the costs of these projects can
remain intact. Projects must also be taken based on priorities in view of the recent ongoing
macroeconomic challenges of the economy that primarily unfolded due to exogenous factors
such as the ongoing global inflation, the Russia- Ukraine war, and policy rate hikes in the
developed economies.

The government's aims for undertaking infrastructure projects are amply supported by the
recent initiatives, which range from building the Padma bridge to the most current project -
the Metro rail initiative. Motijheel can be reached from Uttara by the Metro Rail in roughly
40 minutes.

Such transportation options are anticipated to significantly contribute to the economic

development of the nation by transforming people's lifestyles.

To understand the overall long-term economic impact of this project, BDRAL has developed

a model that captures most of the important aspects that a national infrastructure project can
offer. The model is shown below:

To comprehend the impact of a project such as the Metro Rail, it is important to understand
several issues from the beginning. To start with, the "Big Push" theory. As suggested in this
theory, the road to development is not smooth. It is rather lumpy. To move a stagnant

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economy forward, what is needed is a "Big Push" so that the initial inertia or the stagnation
of the economy can be removed.

Several infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, especially those which are being implemented
simultaneously, are likely to offer a big push to overcome the inertia. These projects often do
not directly offer benefits to different industries, but their indirect impact is significant in the
long run.

Interestingly, there is a long gestation period for these projects, which makes it difficult to
realise their impact in the short run. Unless there is a certainty that essential supplementary
investments will be made, any single investment proposal may be deemed too risky to
proceed with. However, a massive investment program, conducted as a whole, might
significantly increase national revenue.

These projects are examples of external economies, and their benefits eventually transfer to
industries which help expand their operations as well as create internal economies and offer
cost reductions in other related ones that use the products or services of these first set of
industries as inputs.

The accumulation of profits, as a result of such cost savings, will eventually offer expansions
to the second set of industries as well offering holistic expansion in the economy of the
concerned country.

Alexander Gerschenkron, dubbed the significant advancement in the industrialisation of

Russia as the "Great Spurt". He suggested that at the onset of this, the larger relative
backwardness of the country experienced a rapid subsequent expansion in manufacturing,
lowering contributions of the agricultural sector to the economy, slower increase in
consumption, and greater stress on producers' goods compared to the consumers' goods.

The scenario of Bangladesh seems similar if all these variables are compared to those of the
economies from the developed world.

Considering these, it is obvious that the Metro Rail project is also going to offer indirect
benefits to the country (since this is a component of the Strategic Transport Plan and only
one of many projects under it) with significantly lower risks and is likely to push the outputs
of the manufacturing sectors up. This will increase these sectors' contribution to the GDP and
reduce the relative contribution of agriculture in the long run.

To clarify the benefits and costs of this project and offer further clarity to the concepts
presented above, we can look at the Economic, Environmental, and Social (EES) model for
national infrastructure projects and briefly discuss its components one by one.

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Economic Costs and Benefits:
Time and other cost savings:
The Metro Rail project, on average, will save 100.6 minutes per person per day (Average
travel time using Bus = 146.8 minutes, Using Metro rail = 46.2 minutes). If all of the Dhaka
dwellers, 22.50 million people, use the services of the Metro rail of Bangladesh, savings will
be as high as Tk73,575 million or Tk7,357.5 crore. Besides, the Metro Rail project will also
save USD 2.4 billion each year, which is equal to 1.5% of the national GDP.

Revenue:
Fare revenue was set up based on the results of the traffic demand forecast and fare rate,
which is set as Tk5 per km for passengers. An extra stream of revenue will be arriving from
retail sales activities and advertising, which is likely to be equal to 10% of fare revenue.

Costs and Financing:

Major costs of the project came from the Escalation factor, Tax and import duty, and Land
acquisition costs. In total, the cost of the project was estimated to be Tk220 billion. JAICA
gave 75% of the funds at 0.01% interest and the Bangladesh Government offered the rest.

Increased Fuel costs during the construction phase:

The construction phase of the Metro Rail projects have already caused huge traffic
congestion in several locations of the city pushing up travel time and fuel consumption.

Long-term impacts on businesses:

 During, prior and post the construction period, there will be significant benefits
offered to the businesses from Bangladesh.
 For example, the roof trusses, which are prefabricated structures designed to support
roofs, of the stations of the Dhaka metro rail project were made locally by McDonald
Steel Building Products. These sorts of events will expand the business operations of
some businesses and may also offer economies of scale reducing their production
costs.
 It will offer other businesses who use their products as inputs at a possibly lower cost
offering profit accumulation and further opportunity for growth for the latter (as per
the suggestions of the Big Push theory).
 Moreover, savings in travel time will offer physical, mental and economic benefits for
the working population of Bangladesh which increases the efficiency and productivity
of the employees at different business units. It will also help increase savings for
individuals, which will be used to consume more products and services in the future.
It is also likely to increase private investments in the years to come.
 We have not assessed the possibility of carrying freight using metro rails. These will
certainly add a significant stream of revenue in the years to come. It is stated that the
metro rail will carry potentially 60,000 per day.

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 If we consider an average weight of 80KG per person, it is equivalent to carrying
5,291 tons of weight per day. If this volume of freight can be carried at night, freight
costs for different businesses will be reduced, offering even more earnings to the
Government, and creating less pollution and traffic too at night. Saving on
transportation costs will also offer greater efficiency to certain businesses, improving
their chances of enhancing profit and growth.
Environmental Impacts:
1. It has been estimated that Bangladesh can save USD 2.6 billion if we can reduce 60%
of traffic congestion in Dhaka. If the Metro Rail gets the expected level of
acceptance, this scenario is very likely.
2. The environmental aspects should have received more importance. The possibility of
using renewable technologies at the stations should have been considered. Since the
line is a large extended one covering major land areas in Dhaka city, it can be easily
used for solar energy harvesting. These can save costs and resources for the country.
3. However, environmental pollution (arising from dust and other particles) during the
construction phase is certainly adding to the costs of pollution. But this can be offset
by carbon reduction which can be achieved following the completion of the project
due to lowered traffic congestion.
Social Impacts:
1. Employment generation at the pre, during and post construction phases will offer
significant social benefits.
2. Safety is another major social issue that the project is going to offer to the passengers
of Dhaka city. This should have also been reflected in the discussions and
documentation surrounding metro rail.
3. Increased losses in terms of physical, and psychological forms due to traffic
congestion.
4. Safety is another major social benefit that the project is going to offer to the
passengers of Dhaka city. Travelling using the metro is significantly safer in contrast
to using buses.

Country Branding:
The implementation of this project will indicate that Bangladesh is moving towards
remarkable economic development and is a viable market for international Trades &
Investments. The automatic country branding achieved through this project is likely to
increase the volume of trade & investment as well as add to the national tax revenue resulting
in an increase in the GDP of this country.

These discussions offer a layout of how the metro rail project, one of the most important
development projects of the country, may offer long-term benefits in terms of the economic
growth of Bangladesh. If we can build on the benefits offered by this project, we will also be
able to sustain this growth in the years to come.
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The economic highlights of the Metrorail:

1) Starting from Uttara, the route of Metrorail Line-6 will be going to Motijheel.
2) There will be 16 stations on this 20 km long line.
3) Metrorail will run with 800 passengers every four minutes.
4) About 60 thousand passengers will be transported every hour.
5) It will take about 40 minutes to cover 20 kilometers.
6) The project has cost around Tk 22,000 crore.
7) There will be opportunities to generate more work.
8) Job opportunities will be created for the unemployed.
9) The communication system will be more comfortable.
10) There will be no more traffic congestion in the capital.

Advantages of Metro Rail

1. Time-saving Convenience – Metro rail systems offer a convenient and fast way to
travel through cities. With metro rail, you don‟t have to worry about traffic or finding
parking spots. Metro rail lines often run through the busiest parts of the city,
connecting you to your desired destinations quickly.
2. Environmentally Friendly – Unlike cars or buses, metro rail does not produce
harmful emissions that pollute the environment. This makes it a green option for city
transportation, helping to reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change.
3. Increased Economic Growth – The construction and operation of metro rail systems
can create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, when cities invest in
public transportation, it can help revitalize previously underdeveloped areas, boosting
local economies and increasing property values.
4. Safer Option – Metro rail systems are usually safer than other forms of
transportation because they operate on separate tracks, away from other traffic.
Additionally, they have strict safety protocols, including surveillance cameras and
emergency response systems, ensuring passengers‟ safety.
5. Reduced Congestion – With fewer cars on the road, metro rail can help reduce
congestion, which in turn reduces the time people spend commuting to work or
school. This translates to more time spent on productive or fun activities, and less
time spent stuck in traffic.

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Disadvantages of Metro Rail

1. Limited routes – One of the main disadvantages of metro rail is that it only operates
on specific routes, which may not be accessible to everyone. This means that some
people may still need to rely on other modes of transportation to reach their desired
destination.
2. Crowded conditions – During peak hours, metro rail can become extremely
crowded, with commuters jostling for space and seats. This can be uncomfortable and
even unsafe, especially for those who are elderly, disabled, or carrying heavy loads.
3. Maintenance issues – Like any other transportation system, metro rail requires
regular maintenance to ensure that it is safe and reliable. However, this maintenance
work can sometimes lead to service disruptions, which can be frustrating for
commuters.
4. Dependence on electricity – Metro rail systems rely on electricity to power their
trains, which means that they are vulnerable to power outages and other electrical
issues. This can cause delays and inconvenience for commuters, especially during
extreme weather conditions.
5. High costs – Building and maintaining a metro rail system can be very expensive,
and these costs are often passed on to commuters in the form of higher ticket prices.
This can make metro rail an unaffordable option for some people, particularly those
with lower incomes.

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Benefits and Economic Impact of Karnaphuli Tunnel
Bangladesh‟s first underground road tunnel, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Tunnel, is being
built under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong, the commercial capital of Bangladesh and
the second largest city. Through this tunnel, the country‟s port city Chittagong as well as
Chittagong airport and seaport will facilitate and improve communication with Bandarban
and Cox‟s Bazar districts along with Anwara upazila in the south. Extensive industrial
development activities are already underway on both sides of the Karnaphuli River around
the tunnel, and construction of EPZs is underway, which will play an important role in the
economic development of the country. Besides, this tunnel will reduce the distance from
Dhaka to Cox‟s Bazar, one of the tourist cities of the country, due to which special changes
can be noticed in the tourism industry there. So what are the economic impacts of the
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Tunnel?
Economic Impact
Construction of Bangladesh‟s first-ever tunnel at a depth of 150 feet in the middle of the
Karnaphuli river started on 24 February 2019. Through this tunnel, the Anwara Upazila of
Chittagong will be connected with the Chittagong main city, which is considered the
commercial capital of the country. The tunnel will essentially transform Chittagong into a
„one city, two towns‟ model like Shanghai, China. The implementation of the project has
been estimated to cost BDT 10,374. 82 crore, of which BDT 4,461.23 crore are being
financed by the Bangladesh government, and the remaining BDT 5,913.19 crore is being
financed from the Exim Bank of China. The government of Bangladesh will pay this amount
with 2 percent interest in the next 20 years after the completion of the project.

The Karnaphuli Tunnel project has been estimated to cost BDT 10,374. 82 crore, which is being financed by
both the Bangladesh government (BDT 4,461.23 crore) and the EXIM Bank of China (BDT 5,913.19 crore)

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This project is currently being jointly implemented by Chinese contractor “China

Communication and Construction Company Limited” and Bangladesh Bridge Department.
While the total length of this four-lane project in two tubes is 9.47 km, the length of the main
tunnel is 3.4 km, while the length of the tube alone is 2.45 km, and the inner diameter of the
tunnel is about 11 (10.80) meters. Besides, a 5.35 km approach road and 727 meter
overbridge are also being constructed at both ends of the tunnel. Work is underway to open
the tunnel to the public by December 2022.
Once the tunnel is built, the communication system will become faster and easier in Cox‟s
Bazar district, including Anwara, Banshkhali, Patia, and Chandanish with Chittagong city.
The distance from Shah Amanat International Airport, which is located in the main city of
Chittagong, to Anwara Upazila via Chittagong-Cox‟s Bazar highway is about 34.6 km which
takes 2 to 3 hours to travel. On the other hand, the distance of Bangabandhu Tunnel from the
airport is only 2 km, and after becoming fully functional, it will take only 30 minutes to reach
Anwara from the airport. After completion of the project, Chittagong Airport, Chittagong
Port, and Patenga-Anwara link, as well as the under-construction bay terminal, Mirsarai
Economic Zone, CUFL, Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited, China EPZ, and Cox‟s
Bazar coal power plant will also be served via the tunnel and its approach road, which will
simultaneously reduce both travel time and cost.

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The tunnel will reduce the time and cost of traveling between the Chittagong Airport, Chittagong Port, Patenga-
Anwara link, the under-construction bay terminal, Mirsarai Economic Zone, CUFL, Karnaphuli Fertilizer
Company Limited, China EPZ, and Cox‟s Bazar coal power plant

On the other hand, the distance of two different routes from Chittagong city to the tourist city
Cox‟s Bazar is 148 km, and 152 km, respectively. Moreover, the distance from Dhaka to
Cox‟s Bazar by road is 398 km which takes about 9 hours to cover. By using the
Bangabandhu Tunnel, the distance from Dhaka to Cox‟s Bazar will be reduced by at least 50
km. Cox‟s Bazar district is located in the southernmost part of the country, and it is
recognized as the tourist city of Bangladesh. Because, Cox‟s Bazar, the world‟s largest
natural beach, attracts about 10 million tourists every year, of which 17 percent are local
tourists. However, one has to travel a long way to reach this tourist city from Dhaka or the
north-western part of the country. Besides, since there is no international airport in Cox‟s
Bazar, and there is no direct flight from Chittagong Airport to Cox‟s Bazar, foreign tourists
often have to reach Cox‟s Bazar by road from Chittagong Airport, which is quite time-
consuming. According to a source from Bangladesh Bridge Authority, if the Karnaphuli
tunnel is fully functional, the distance from Chittagong city to Cox‟s Bazar will be reduced
by about 15 km, which will further reduce the time of tourists as well as traffic congestion.
Moreover, it will also help to further enrich the tourism of Cox‟s Bazar.
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Apart from Cox‟s Bazar, the Karnaphuli Tunnel Feasibility Report has proposed recreational
activities at Parkir Char on the eastern side of the Karnaphuli River and South Patenga on the
western side, which is under the latest development. Coastal-related tourist facility
development, existing Patenga sea beach upgradation, and new site development on about
1700 acres of land in the Char area of Parki are also highlighted in this report. An area on the
west side of the beach will be reserved only for camping, picnics, annual sporting events, and
other community events. On the other hand, certain areas on the eastern side of Patenga Road
have been allocated for amusement parks. Apart from turning the area between the
Chittagong airport and the industrial area into a water-based tourist site, the report also
suggested developing a 1-km harbourfront public promenade from the airport to the naval
installation. Chittagong will also become a tourist destination if the initiatives being taken for
new development along with further upgrading of the existing tourist spots around the
Bangabandhu Tunnel are completed, and it will further enrich the tourism sector of the
country.
Apart from tourism, due to the Bangabandhu Tunnel, special industrial development
activities are also going on in Chittagong. According to the Bangabandhu Tunnel Feasibility
Test report, out of the 6055 acres of industrial area in Chittagong city, 5,188 acres of land is
west of the Karnaphuli river, and only 867 acres is on the east bank.

Of the 6055 acres of industrial area in Chittagong city, 5,188 acres of land is west of the Karnaphuli river, and
only 867 acres is on the east bank.

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As against 47 percent agricultural land in Anwara and surrounding areas on the east bank of
Karnaphuli River, less than 2 (1.7%) percent of the land is used for industrial purposes
(Manufacturing & Processing). However, about 9 thousand (8,981) acres of land can be
developed as an industrial zone in the Anwara only after the tunnel is opened. Meanwhile,
the Mustafa Hakim Group has set up a steel plant and an oxygen plant on the south bank of
the Karnaphuli River at the cost of BDT 1500 crore surrounding the tunnel, which currently
employs around 2,000 people. Apart from this, several companies such as Super
Pharmaceutical Limited, Partex Petro Limited, Acorn Infrastructure Service Limited, and BN
Lubricant are currently operational in the Juldha area of Karnaphuli. On the other hand,
Bellamy Textiles, ATP International Limited, GSL Exports, Benchmark Apparel, and USA
Battery Factory have already started their production in Khwajanagar and Ichanagar. Apart
from this, a garment factory named “HS Composite Textile” is being constructed near the
approach road for the tunnel, which is likely to provide employment to at least three to five
thousand people. Besides, the country‟s leading industrial companies like Akiz Group, Four
H Group, Diamond Cement, S Alam Group, and Pertex Group have already purchased land
in Anwara and Karnaphuli areas to set up their factories. Besides, the work of establishing
the country‟s first specialized G-2-G Economic Zone Chinese Economic Zone on 781 acres
of land in Chittagong‟s Anwara Upazila is underway, which will create employment for at
least 2 lakh people after its completion. Moreover, according to a source from Bangladesh
Economic Zones Authority, more than 60 local and foreign companies have already shown
interest in investing about 280 million dollars in this economic zone. By doing this, massive
industrialization will happen on both sides of the entire Karnaphuli river around the tunnel. It
will simultaneously turn Chittagong into a business hub and create massive employment for
the people of Anwara and Patenga.

The Karnaphuli Tunnel transformed Chittagong into a business hub and has massively improvement
employment.

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Besides, the Karnaphuli tunnel will play an important role in Chittagong as well as the
overall economy of the country. According to the feasibility report of the tunnel, the tunnel
will directly contribute 0.166 percent to the country‟s GDP every year for the next 50 years.
Because, once the tunnel is completed, Chittagong port, one of the country‟s commercial
ports, and Matarbari deep sea port will benefit directly. According to the Karnaphuli Tunnel
Feasibility Report, the cargo handling capacity of the port will increase to 320 million tonnes
per annum by 2055 after the Matarbari Deep Sea Port becomes operational. From there, the
Dhaka-Chittagong highway has to be used to transport these goods by trucks to different
parts of the country.

It has been estimated that the cargo handling capacity of the port will increase to 320 million tons per annum by
2055.

This will increase the pressure on the two bridges located on the Karnaphuli river starting
from Chittagong city. Besides, additional congestion will increase transportation time and
cost. But, if the tunnel is used for transporting the same goods, the heavily loaded trucks can
be transported to different parts of the country in less time, in addition to reducing traffic
congestion. Besides, the factories which have been built and are currently under construction
in Anwara, the eastern end of Karnaphuli River, the imported raw materials can be easily
transported to these factories from Chittagong airport or seaport. Also, the tunnel will make
communication and transportation easier. So, exporting those products through Chittagong
port and airport will be more easier, and moving those goods to Dhaka or further
northwestern part of the country will also become convenient and time-saving. It will help in
making the economy of the country more dynamic. According to the concerned authorities of
the project, after the tunnel becomes fully functional, 17 thousand vehicles per day and
around 50 lakh vehicles will travel through the tunnel in the first year.

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