South Chattogram residents demand toll removal from Shah Amanat Bridge

Residents of South Chattogram have renewed demands to permanently remove toll collection from the Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Bridge, calling it “unjust and discriminatory.”

At a press conference held at Fayez-Nur Nahar Hall of Chattogram Academy on Saturday (Oct 11), several civic groups including Karnaphuli Nagorik Parishad, CDA Residential Plot Owners' Welfare Association, and Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation (Chattogram Chapter) announced a human chain protest on October 17 at 4.00pm near the Moijjartek toll plaza.

Speakers said daily toll payments are increasing living costs and causing severe traffic congestion, hindering investment and development in the region. They cited international norms where tolls aren’t collected if there are settlements on both sides of a river—ignored in this case.

Advocate Zia Habib Ahsan, Advocate S. M. Forkan, Journalist Shafique Ahmed Sajib, Advocate A.H.M. Jasim Uddin (BHRF), Engineer Rafique Sikder (UAE Bangladesh Samity), Advocate Zahidul Islam among others spoke at the conference.