At a press briefing on the issue at Chittagong Circuit House,

the minister said the proposed bridge would be a latest version of suspension bridge known as 3rd generation bridge from its technical viewpoint.

Noman said a road march under the banner "Chalo Chalo, Karnaphuli Bridge Abhimukhe Chalo" (Let us move towards Karnaphuli Bridge site) will be staged in the port city on August 5 to drum up support in favour of the pillar-based bridge.

Referring to the allegation that the proposed bridge would ultimately be harmful for Chittagong port, the minister said as per the recommendations of the country's renowned experts, the possibility of siltation in the riverbed for the bridge is only one percent.

There will be 200 metres span between the pillars in the bridge, the first of its kind, to reduce the possibility of siltation, he added.

Noman said the government had carried out all the required feasibility studies and model tests before finalising the design of the bridge.

The experts had examined all aspects including possible siltation in port channel and the risk of natural calamity like cyclone and earthquake in order to ensure the long-cherished bridge economically viable as well as geographically and environmentally sustainable, he said.

"I don't know why the mayor raised his voice against the implementation of the project while most political parties and their leaders, including those of Awami League and the common people in Chittagong sincerely want it's timely execution," Noman said.

He said it was nothing but an ill attempt to make the project uncertain with a motive to prove that the BNP had failed to fulfill its commitment.

Former city BNP general secretary Dastagir Chowdhury, Shahjahan Chowdhury MP of Jamaat-e-Islam and Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Chittagong city unit President Abul Hashem Bakkar were present on the occasion.