Menwhile Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a goodwill message to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the grand occasion of Bangladesh's entry into the new era of tunnel.

The tunnel has been opened after 6 am. Several vehicles were waiting to cross the stretch before dawn. Shanto Chowdhury entered the tunnel for the first time at the Patenga end.

Many like him are excited to cross the tunnel. And a microbus coming from Cox's Bazar enters the first tunnel by paying toll Tk 250 through Anwara end.

Passengers and drivers said that they crossed the tunnel in just two and a half to three minutes.