Photo: BSS

RANGAMATI, March 30, 2026 (BSS) - The Roads and Highways Department has 
undertaken an initiative to construct Bangladesh's first cable-stayed bridge 
over the Karnaphuli River at the Chandraghona-Raikhali Ferry Ghat.

The proposed bridge will connect Kaptai upazila of Rangamati district with 
Rangunia upazila, significantly improving regional connectivity. The total 
estimated cost of the project is Taka 165,871.86 lakh.

Confirming the development, Sabuj Chakma, executive engineer of the Roads and 
Highways Department in Rangamati, said the final design has already been 
completed and the Development Project Proposal (DPP) has been submitted to 
the authorities concerned. 

A project verification committee meeting held on March 9, 2026, under the 
chairmanship of the Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary, approved 
the plan to construct the cable-stayed bridge at Chandraghona Ferry Ghat.

According to project details, the main bridge will be 532 meters long. In 
addition, a 455-meter viaduct and a 511-meter elevated road will be built to 
ensure smooth connectivity. 

The construction cost for the main bridge and viaduct is estimated at Taka 
86,850.16 lakh while additional infrastructure costs--including the elevated 
connecting road--are projected at Taka 24,200.20 lakh.

Officials said the project will move forward once it receives approval from 
the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by 
the Prime Minister. If approved, construction is expected to begin on July 1, 
2026, and be completed by June 30, 2031.

Kirti Nishan Chakma, Deputy Assistant Engineer of the Roads and Highways 
Department in Rangamati, said the project aims to establish a safe, 
efficient, and uninterrupted road network linking Rangamati and Bandarban 
districts. 

The bridge will replace the existing ferry system along the Rangamati-Ghagra-
Bangalhalia-Bandarban Regional Highway, reducing travel time and 
transportation costs.

He also emphasized that the development will boost tourism in the scenic hill 
districts of Rangamati and Bandarban, while ensuring a more reliable system 
for transporting goods and vehicles.

Former Kaptai Upazila Parishad Chairman Dildar Hossain described the bridge 
as a long-cherished dream of the local people, expressing optimism that its 
construction will significantly improve the socio-economic conditions of the 
region.