STORY: Bangladesh enters new era of transportation with Chinese-built 1st underwater tunnel
DATELINE: Oct. 29, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:42
LOCATION: CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of drone view of the toll station of the tunnel
2. various of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina unveiling a monument to the tunnel
3. various of Hasina paying the first toll and gone through the tunnel
4. various of inauguration ceremony
5. various of Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and the representative from the Chinese company presenting the tunnel model to Hasina
6. various of inauguration ceremony
7. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YU JINGTAO, Project Manager
8. various of the tunnel
9. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANAND BARUA, Bangladeshi resident
10. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SAUFUL ISLAM CHOWDHURY, Associate professor of the University of Chittagong

STORYLINE:

A Chinese-built underwater tunnel, the first in Bangladesh and South Asia, was inaugurated on Saturday as Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid the first toll and went through the tunnel.
   
Hasina and Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel.
   
The much-awaited tunnel, some 242 km southeast of the capital Dhaka, was built with joint funding from the governments of Bangladesh and China, and was constructed by China Communications Construction Company Ltd.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): YU JINGTAO, Project manager
"The tunnel was constructed with Chinese technology, standards and equipment. The completion of the project is of great significance to local economic development, especially to the development of Chittagong area of Bangladesh, and can also meet the increasing transportation needs."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANAND BARUA, Bangladeshi resident 
"It's a great opportunity for the two sides of people, and for trade and tourism. China is Bangladesh's long-time friend."

The tunnel will connect the proposed Asian Highway to Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Highway and will reduce the distance from Chattogram to the southeastern seabeach town Cox's Bazar by 40 km.
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (English): SAUFUL ISLAM CHOWDHURY, Associate professor of the University of Chittagong
"We are very much grateful that Chittagong is gifted with a tunnel. I'm sure this mega project, this mega contribution, will play a massive role in the flourishment of the economy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has taken this policy (BRI). With the help of China, it has gone a long way in its step."

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road and beyond.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Chattogram, Bangladesh.
(XHTV)