Padma Bridge a symbol of nation’s pride, a reply to conspirators: PM
The Padma Bridge is not a pile of brick and cement but a symbol of the nation's pride, capacity, and dignity, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday as she inaugurated the country's longest bridge entirely built with domestic funding.
"The bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh. It involves our passion, our creativity, our courage, our endurance, and our perseverance," she said at the grand opening ceremony of the 6.15-kilometre road-rail four-lane landmark bridge over the mighty Padma at its Mawa end at around 11am on Saturday.
Premier Hasina expressed deep gratitude to the people involved with the construction of the Padma Bridge.
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She said the much-cherished bridge stands on the turbulent Padma River, overcoming many obstacles and breaking the web of conspiracy.
"Today, I am happy, proud, and overwhelmed along with millions of people of the country," said Hasina.
Later, while addressing a rally in Madaripur's Shibchar, the prime minister said building the Padma Bridge was a perfect answer to all conspirators.
"Dr Yunus lobbied in the USA to stop funding for the bridge. Building the bridge was a perfect reply to Yunus and all other conspirators," she told the rally organised by the Awami League at Kathalbari of Shibchar upazila, marking the opening of the long-awaited Padma Bridge.
Hundreds of thousands of people attended the programme.
Southern region will not be neglected anymore for Padma Bridge, the PM said, adding that no one will have to lose their loved ones while crossing the mighty Padma anymore.
The Awami League president said, "My entire family including me faced harassment because we wanted to build the Padma Bridge. But nobody can stop the people of Bangladesh, just like Bangabandhu said – 'Keu amader dabay rakhte parbena'," she said, adding, "I will sacrifice my life for the people of the country."
The premier asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to come and see the Padma Bridge for herself.
She said when she was in office she laid the foundation of the Padma Bridge in 2001 but the BNP chairperson stopped the Padma Bridge construction work.
"Khaleda said Padma Bridge will not be constructed. I want to ask her to come and see whether Padma Bridge has been completed," PM said.
The prime minister, before joining a massive rally, unveiled a second mural at the Zajira point of the bridge. A special prayer was offered at that time.
Sheikh Hasina and her motorcade reached Shibchar, crossing the Padma Bridge soon after opening it to the traffic on Saturday noon.
She became the first person to cross the long-awaited bridge by paying the toll at the Mawa toll plaza in Munshiganj.
Thirteen buses with 40 seats each followed the PM crossing the Padma Bridge. First two buses carried ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers, while others carried members of parliament, diplomats, secretaries, and political leaders.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Multipurpose Bridge in a historic moment for the nation.
After inaugurating the bridge, the prime minister unveiled a mural at the Mawa point of the bridge.
'Quality not compromised'
The Padma Bridge project witnessed several engineering wonders as well as technological challenges. It emerged as the wonder structure for Bangladesh and saw the use of state-of-the-art machinery and know-how.
The quality of the bridge construction work has not been compromised, the PM said. "This bridge is built with the latest technology and materials in the world, maintaining full transparency. The whole construction process has been completed while maintaining the highest standards."
PM Hasina said the foundation of the Padma Bridge is still the deepest in the world. She said the piles of the bridge have been laid up to a maximum depth of 122 metres while sophisticated technology has been used for earthquake prevention.
"Because of some of the more special features, the construction of this bridge will be included in engineering textbooks around the world – that's for sure," she said.
The prime minister said the engineers of Bangladesh have gained experience in implementing big projects from this huge work. "In the future, we will be able to build such complex bridges or infrastructure ourselves," she further said.
Controlling the treacherous fast-moving Padma River was as much a challenge as building the bridge, she said, adding that arrangements have been made to secure both the banks of the river by successfully tackling that challenge.
"There is a well-managed and well-maintained service area on both sides of the bridge."
Fresh vow to work for country's welfare
On this historic day of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, the prime minister asked the people to take a fresh vow to work for the welfare of the country and the people of the country.
She said, "Let us take a fresh vow to work for the welfare of the country and the people of the country."
At last, the people of Bangladesh saw the light breaking the darkness, she said, adding, "Red, blue, green, and golden lights are shining in the chest of the Padma."
The country, which was liberated by my father, cannot be deprived anymore, she said.
She expressed her deepest gratitude to the people of the country as they were beside her all the time.
Lauding people for their support during the construction of Padma Bridge, Sheikh Hasina told the Shibchar rally, "You gave us the courage, you gave us the power… I'm ready to sacrifice myself for you. If needed, I will sacrifice my life."
She then shouted the slogan "Joy Bangla! Joy Bangabandhu!" as thousands of people joined her.
Earlier at the inauguration ceremony at Mawa, she said she had no complaints against anyone who had hatched conspiracies against the Bridge and the country. "Today, I hope that good sense will prevail upon those who hatched conspiracies and obstructed us over the construction of this bridge, their patriotism will be awakened and they would be more responsible regarding the people of Bangladesh."
When she announced the Padma Bridge would be constructed with own finances, many criticised the government saying that it would not be possible entirely on domestic funding and that it was just a dream that would never come into reality, she said.
Pointing to them, she said they have a deficiency in their thought and self-confidence. "I think their confidence will also get enhanced from today that Bangladesh can do," she said.
"Our economy has not gotten stagnant. It remains moving…Bangladesh's economy has not collapsed. It is still growing despite facing the Covid-19 pandemic and the crisis caused by the Ukraine-Russia War," she said.
'Living standard of southwestern people to improve'
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Padma Bridge has established direct communication between the capital Dhaka and 21 districts in the southwestern part of the country by road and rail.
She said the living standard of the people of this region will improve. They will not remain neglected anymore, she added.
Even though the bridge is expected to contribute 1.23% to GDP growth and reduce poverty by 0.84% per year, she believes its contribution would be higher than it, said Hasina.
She said her government will build new economic zones and high-tech parks centring the bridge. As a result, domestic and foreign investment will be attracted and the pace of industrialization of the country will be accelerated. This bridge will play an important role in accelerating regional trade, she said.
