Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said Padma Bridge construction will be completed by December 2021 and it will be inaugurated on the Victory Day that year.

"Out of 40 spans of the bridge, 37 have been installed and 82% of the project has been completed," said the minister at "Meet the Reporters" programme organised by the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on Friday.

He said the government had made 450 kilometres of four-lane highways across the country in 12 years and work was underway to construct another 400km, adding construction of border roads was also going on.

Admitting that discipline has not yet come in the country's public transport, the bridge minister said, "If discipline is not restored in public transport, people will not be able to enjoy the benefits of this road development. We are working on a project to restore order on the road. Hopefully, we will be able to achieve that very soon."

He said there are many infiltrators in his party, but the Awami League takes strong action against any criminal activities committed by them.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is strict in this regard. Criminals belong to no party and a party cannot be a shield for them," Quader added.

He said the BNP had established a reign of terror when it came to power and the people had not forgotten that.

"The BNP does not understand the pulse of the people and the minds of its workers. Leader of the people Sheikh Hasina is so popular because she understands that."

Quader also said the BNP had not staged any protests demanding the release of the party chairperson.

"They have failed in their movement for elections. Their politics is the politics of giving press releases from home. BNP leaders sit at home calling for movement, but we have endured a lot of torture and have done politics."

Those who talk about democracy and multi-party democracy elected a farcical election in 1996 with a night curfew in the country and now they are questioning the election, he said.

DRU General Secretary Riaz Chowdhury conducted the programme while its President Rafiqul Islam Azad presided over. Journalists of various media outlets were present at the programme.