To this effect, an agreement was signed in Dhaka yesterday between the government of Bangladesh and the KFAED.

AZM Shafiqul Alam, joint secretary, Economic Relations Division, and Hamad Sulaiman M Al-Omer Al-Derbas, deputy director-general, KFAED, signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides.

The third Karnaphuli Bridge will be built over the river Karnaphuli in the Bakolia-Shikalbaha area in Chittagong district.

An official release said the proposed bridge, when constructed, will establish direct road link of capital Dhaka and port city Chittagong with Cox's Bazar and the planned Asian highway.

Civil works for constructing the bridge involve river training work of about 1000 metres, access roads of about 1000 metres, toll plaza facilities, lighting, traffic signals and road markings and other related works.

Roads and Highways Department under the Ministry of Communications will implement the project.

KFAED, one of the development partners of Bangladesh, has been providing economic assistance to Bangladesh for development, particularly in the area of road transport and power sector, since 1974-75.