He said people of Chittagong would accept no other bridge than a suspension one with a view to protecting the country's premier port.

The mayor was speaking at a press conference organised by the Nagorik Committee on this issue at Chittagong Press Club.

He threatened to announce an agitation programme from a rally at Laldighi Maidan on August 5 to press home the demand.

Mohiuddin said he was pursuing for a suspension bridge to protect the riverbed from serious siltation that would ultimately harm the port.

The mayor denied the allegation of making a conspiracy to obstruct the development of Chittagong.

He said despite the opinion of Chittagong Port Authority, Water Resource Division, BRTC, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and River Research Institute in favour of a tunnel or suspension bridge the government is going ahead with pillar-based bridge.

The mayor said he would meet the experts and members of civil society at a view exchange meeting at Hotel Imperial in the capital on August 3.

Mohiuddin said he would also request the communication minister to stop the launching ceremony of the project on August 7.

The Roads and Highways Division has fixed August 7 as the date for starting physical construction work of the proposed Third Karnaphuli Bridge through a ceremony at the project site.

Nagorik Committee Convenor Dr Abu Yusuf Alam, city Awami League General Secretary Kazi Inamul Hoque Danu, and Secretary of Communist Party of Bangladesh Chittagong unit Shah Alam were present at the press conference.