Nagar Reporter: CDA has assured to revise the proposal to cut trees and build ramps on Tigerpass-CRB double-decker roads. On Tuesday afternoon, in the discussion meeting at the Chittagong Development Authority’s conference room, the CDA chairman and officials said that the next decision will be taken by discussing with the protestors after Eid after preparing the proposal for the new design of the ramp. However, the agitators told the meeting that they do not want any ramp by destroying the double-decker road and cutting trees in the Tigerpass-CRB area.
CDA’s project plan proposes to cut trees and build a ramp on the Tigerpass-CRB double-decker road for vehicles coming from the New Market-Kadamatoli area on the elevated expressway. After learning about the matter, several civil organizations in Chittagong joined the movement on Monday. Political parties and social and environmental organizations demanded the cancellation of this decision. In view of this, CDA Chairman Zahirul Alam Dobhas held an exchange meeting with leaders of civil society, Chittagong, and the collective environment protection movement on Tuesday.
At the beginning of the meeting, the member of the Awami League’s advisory board, sociologist Dr. Anupam Sen, said Chittagong is rich in natural beauty. But with the invasion of civilization, everything seems to be getting destroyed. We have protected Chittagong’s beautiful natural site, CRB, from aggression. Deshratna Sheikh Hasina made many developments to advance Bangladesh, which is enviable. Development is necessary. But if the environment is disturbed, all development will fail. Not just centenarian trees. 14–15 are being ramped up. 2-3 ramps only. Additional ramps create traffic congestion in the city. There will also be traffic jams on the elevated expressway. Especially the double-decker road is a wonderful place. I don’t think there is any need for a ramp there. It will become an ugly thing.
He said, I am also a student of urban planning. Urban planning will be such that the natural environment must be maintained and garbage should not be created. Elevated means long-distance vehicles will go over it. Why should it be taken down on all the streets? More ramps will create traffic jams on elevated expressways. He gave an example and said that there are very few ramps in Dhaka. The elevated expressway rises from Eden in Kolkata and descends at Theater Road. There is no ramp in between. It’s for rich people. If you repeatedly dig down the road, it also becomes shorter. I have been seeing this double-decker road since 1948. That beautiful part should not be spoiled in any way. The double-decker road cannot be destroyed in any way.
Then Professor Shafiq Ahmed Chowdhury said, on behalf of the agitators, that we don’t want any ramps here. Rather, there are many ramps.
Mahfuzur Rahman, project director of CDA, said that centenary trees will not be cut. Only the branches of a centennial tree can be cut. If I want to raise the ramp here, I will modify the design a little more. I will show you after Eid. If everyone agrees, then it is my responsibility to implement the work. Don’t unless there is a need for a ramp.
CDA Chief Engineer Kazi Hasan bin Shams said that the issue of ramps is decided according to population density. If you are not here, you have to get up from gate number 2. Car sales are increasing every year. The number of trucks and lorries is high in Port City. 50–100 years from now, cars are designed to grow. I will ease the fluctuations; that was the target. The proposal was made considering the importance of the area. I will not do anything destructive to the environment in Chittagong City. We will not make any ramps by cutting trees. I will tell you about a new design. I will not spoil the double-decker road.
At this time, the agitators kept demanding the cancellation of the ramp on the Tigerpass-CRB section. At this stage, member secretary of civil society and city Awami League vice president Ibrahim Hossain Babul said the CDA will not do anything outside the sentiments of the people of Chittagong. We will name the experts. It will be as we all decide together.
Poet-journalist Kamrul Hasan Badal said the people of Chittagong do not want this. Do not ramp here. You have to pay a toll here. Common people will not be able to use this elevated expressway. No ramps here.
Dr. Manjurul Karim Biplab said you have cut the hill for the elevated expressway in Lalkhan Bazar as well. I did many ramps. Those using the elevated expressway can board from the GEC junction or Agrabad. There is no need to spoil this unique road.
CDA chairman Zahirul Alam Dobash assured that after listening to everyone’s speech, the next course of action will be decided by sitting with the agitators and experts.
Dr. was present at the meeting. Mahfuzur Rahman, South District Awami League General Secretary Mofizur Rahman, People’s Voice President Sharif Chauhan, BFU Joint Secretary General Mohsin Kazi, Press Club Vice President Chowdhury Farid, NAP leader Mitul Dasgupta, cultural organizer Pranab Chowdhury, politician Hasan Maruf Rumi, and activist Ritu Parvi. .
Meanwhile, the combined environmental protection movement and civil society in Chittagong held a program for the second day yesterday morning and afternoon to protect the double-decker road and not cut down the century-old trees. The collective environmental movement joined the protest by draping red cloth on centenary trees and holding banners. On the other hand, the civil society human chained the main gate of the CDA.
