The government plans to build a tunnel under Padma River _ instead of a bridge _between Daulatdia and Paturia for the sake of the river’s navigability, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Friday.  

His statement came amid speculations that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, basking in the successful construction of Padma Bridge, will build a second one over the river.

The country’s first-ever underwater expressway, Bangabandhu Tunnel, is being built under Karnaphuli River in Chattogram. 

READ: Padma Bridge to open before June next year: Quader 

Quader, also the General Secretary of Awami League, was speaking at a seminar organized by the party’s sub-committee on science and technology at the city’s Institute of Engineers Bangladesh- IEB.

He said mere building of good roads is not good enough. These must be maintained properly.

Turning to politics he once again criticised opposition BNP for its lack of any political direction. He said that BNP’s Vision-2030 announced before the last election has now been kept in a cold storage.  

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has visions for 2021, 2041 and 2100 and she will do whatever is needed to achieve these visions, he said.

READ: Don’t resort to arson again in name of movement, Quader warns BNP

The seminar was presided over by the chairman of the sub-Committee Prof. Dr. Md. Hossain Mansur.