Finally, it’s a dream come true. The Padma Bridge opens to traffic on June 25. It has been possible due to the firm will and determination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Very few people believed that the iconic bridge was possible when the World Bank withdrew funds. But the Prime Minister was determined to build the bridge overcoming all the odds.
No donors were willing to help Sheikh Hasina in building the bridge bypassing the World Bank. Even most of the government high officials, decision makers of the ruling party and most of the opposition party members, including former Prime Minister and BNP leader Khaleda Zia, thought the construction of the gigantic task of building such a bridge was not feasible or wise without the help of the World Bank. But the Prime Minister was adamant to present the nation with the bridge as a world heritage.
In such a critical situation China came forward to help Sheikh Hasina in fulfilling her desire to build the bridge with skilled engineers and labour force. It’s no denying that for their skill and devotion it becomes possible to complete the construction of the bridge much too early.
The bridge is a national dream, which has come as a reality because of the courage of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and it promises economic progress and prosperity of the South and Southwestern part of the country.
The construction of the bridge done with our own funds defies all the conspiracies against it at home and abroad.