An interview with Padma Bridge: I am honoured to help this country reshape its economy | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
May 29, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, MAY 29, 2023
An interview with Padma Bridge: I am honoured to help this country reshape its economy

Splash

Rupak Khan
13 December, 2020, 10:25 am
Last modified: 13 December, 2020, 11:35 am

Related News

  • Padma Bridge toll collection exceeds Tk700 crore mark in 10 months
  • Hasan hails WB for realising mistake over withdrawal from Padma Bridge
  • PM Hasina presents painting on Padma Bridge to WB president
  • Police fine 10 for disobeying traffic instructions on Padma Bridge
  • Tk660.24cr toll collected from Padma Bridge till 25 April: Quader

An interview with Padma Bridge: I am honoured to help this country reshape its economy

The Padma bridge - biggest celebrity of the year – speaks in an imaginary interview

Rupak Khan
13 December, 2020, 10:25 am
Last modified: 13 December, 2020, 11:35 am
Padma Bridge illustration: TBS
Padma Bridge illustration: TBS

In the 1930s, Manik Bandopadhyay wrote "Padma Nadir Majhi," his seminal novel, for a magazine. Decades later, the novel was included in Bangladeshi textbooks - making every high schooler read their first ever Manik Bandopadhyay (for most, the only one). 

Nearly a century after the book was published, I am going back to the river. A behemoth concrete structure has been built on it. I have scheduled an interview with the Padma bridge this noon. 

Interview with a bridge? You must think I am delusional. Well, most of us are in this country these days.

"Hello, I am a journalist, can we talk?" I asked the majestic bridge.

She chuckled. Probably because of my professional background.

"What's wrong with being a journalist, Ms. Padma Bridge?" 

"Oh, it's nothing. One of your colleagues from a TV channel has been acting like a paparazzi for the last couple of months. I hope you are not like him," she smiled.

Apparently, a news channel became a running joke for its repeated livestream about the Padma Bridge. Now that all 41 spans have been erected, they have allegedly run out of news.

You must be savouring all the attention! People seem to love you like a rockstar, I said.

She tried hard not to show excitement. But after all, she is a $3.6 billion bridge – worth twice the box office collection of Avengers: Endgame. In a bubbly but modest tone, she told me about her feelings.

"I am really happy to be where I am now. The economists say I am going to boost GDP growth by 1.2%. That is flattering," she said. "I am honoured to help this country reshape its economy. All thanks to our honourable Prime Minister!"

Do you think there is a darker side to your fame? How do you handle your haters? I asked her.

Padma Bridge talked like someone older than her age. Very mature and measured in her opinions. Maybe that is because she is a late bloomer. There was a seven-year delay to complete her initial structure. 

"Honestly, I am just a new kid bridge on the block and I have respect for every other bridge of the country. But sometimes, the internet gets a little too unforgiving," she said. 

"This one time, an old, rusty bridge unfollowed me on Instagram because I was accused of demanding human heads as sacrifice," she added. "Even international bridges act like hunky high school quarterbacks sometimes."

How so?

I am the 122nd longest bridge in the world. Besides, the under construction "Ganga bridge" in Bihar, India, is set to overtake my position in the future. He is a bigger bridge, I get it. But that does not allow him to make memes about me on the internet," Padma bridge seemed a little annoyed.

"It's not just about how big you are. It's about how well you serve your country. I am committed to do my job well, not to wage virtual wars," she said.

At this point, I asked her about the reason for her S-shaped structure. 

"Highway drivers can get drowsy over a long drive. If I were a straight bridge, chances are there would be more accidents on the road," she explained.

As I hinted at wrapping up the interview, Padma bridge asked me a favour. "Could you write about my wish?" she said.
I nodded.

"I want to be featured in action movies. Ever see those high stakes action sequences on a bridge? Mission Impossible 3? Fast Five? True Lies? It would be a dream come true. See that if you can write about it in the paper," Padma bridge conveyed.

I wanted to assure her. But instead, I woke up.

Top News

Padma Bridge

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Govt's borrowing from treasury bills up by Tk65,000cr in FY23
    Govt's borrowing from treasury bills up by Tk65,000cr in FY23
  • Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he addresses his supporters following early exit poll results for the second round of the presidential election in Istanbul, Turkey May 28, 2023. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
    Turkey's Erdogan claims victory in presidential election
  • Photo: Collected
    BBS to introduce district-wise GDP

MOST VIEWED

  • Saikat Nasir. Sketch: TBS
    Interest in Sultanpur will grow once people start watching it: Saikat Nasir
  • Photo: Collected from Facebook
    Shams Ahmed makes history, becomes first Bangladeshi-American to win an Emmy
  • Dua Lipa in "Dance the Night" music video. Photo: Collected
    Dua Lipa offers first taste of ‘dancing Barbie’ with Dance the Night
  • Jaya Ahsan. Photo: Collected
    Jaya Ahsan glistens in Abu Dhabi IIFA Awards 2023
  • Photo: Reuters
    France's Triet becomes third female director to win Cannes' top prize
  • Photo: UNB
    'Nodir Kul': Coke Studio Bangla’s tranquil ode to Polli Kobi Jashimuddin

Related News

  • Padma Bridge toll collection exceeds Tk700 crore mark in 10 months
  • Hasan hails WB for realising mistake over withdrawal from Padma Bridge
  • PM Hasina presents painting on Padma Bridge to WB president
  • Police fine 10 for disobeying traffic instructions on Padma Bridge
  • Tk660.24cr toll collected from Padma Bridge till 25 April: Quader

Features

Unwinding poolside, she revels in self-care, her flawless complexion glowing under the gentle sun. Photo: Rony Rezaul. Model: Tangia Zaman Methila

Dive into Summer Style: Get Ready to Sizzle by the Pool

19h | Mode
Illustration: TBS

'Cybercriminals are creating new ways of hacking'

21h | Panorama
Under SmartMek’s package, farmers can have access to large agricultural machines such as combined harvesters.
Photo: TBS

SmartMek: Providing digitised services to the farmers through smart cards

22h | Panorama
Illustration: Bloomberg

AI will supercharge productivity. Will workers benefit?

20h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Turks are voting in presidential run-off

Turks are voting in presidential run-off

14h | TBS World
Temperature will surpass 1.5 degree by 2027

Temperature will surpass 1.5 degree by 2027

21h | TBS World
Dubai’s gigantic moon shaped mega resort

Dubai’s gigantic moon shaped mega resort

1d | TBS World
In an interview given to TBS Lt. Col. Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury

In an interview given to TBS Lt. Col. Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury

3d | TBS Stories

Most Read

1
End of zero tax!
NBR

End of zero tax!

2
Photo: TBS
Energy

Wind power feeds national grid for first time Friday

3
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

Private helicopter service launched in Ctg

4
Malaysian ship docks at Mongla port with 926 luxurious cars
Bangladesh

Malaysian ship docks at Mongla port with 926 luxurious cars

5
Nagad builds hope on Tk510cr bond, incurs Tk625cr loss
Economy

Nagad builds hope on Tk510cr bond, incurs Tk625cr loss

6
Cenbank prints Tk70,000cr new money in 11 months to support nat'l budget
Budget

Cenbank prints Tk70,000cr new money in 11 months to support nat'l budget

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]