A bridge that seemed impossible to construct by different international agencies has now become a reality and going to be a major medium for development of communication, trade, industry, tourism, and many other sectors of the country.
Just before the celebration of the country’s 49th years of independence, the government has added another feather to its success journey by completing the full structural view on December 10.
All this success came to light due to only one person’s bold decision and she is none other than Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. When the World Bank and a few other donor groups did not finance the Padma Bridge, her bold decision helped build the Padma Bridge with the country’s funds.
Although it was said that once the Padma Bridge is completed, the GDP growth rate will be up to 1.28 percent for the economy as a whole, but that was calculated without a railway link. Now the GDP growth rate will be 2.03 percent due to the addition of the rail line, said the economists.
South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) executive director Dr Selim Raihan said, “The realization of a dream began with the installation of the last span to the Padma Bridge. The bridge will open the door to many possibilities. The growth rate will be more than the previous calculation as it was calculated without rail connection.”
Regarding the construction of the Padma Bridge, the then Communication Minister Syed Abul Hossain said, “A sudden halt of funding for Padma Bridge was a wrong decision of the World Bank. I heard that Robert B. Zoellick the then president of the World Bank took the decision solely without consulting the matter in the board meeting of the World Bank. Later, he regretted for the matter when I met him in a programme in China. I personally believe that, the World Bank will not be able to get a chance to invest in a mega project like Padma Bridge in next 100 years. They are ashamed and sorry for the cancelation of the funding for Padma Bridge”
When taking about the bridge design Syed Abul Hossain said, “The Japanese Consultant Feasibility Study first proposed a single decker bridge over Padma, which would take much time and cost would be also high. But, from my experience I proposed to build a double decker bridge. Building such a bridge takes less time and costs less.”
“When I talked to the consultants and officials concerned they also supported my plan. Then I placed my plan to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and she approved it,” Syed Abul Hossain added.
“I served as Communication Minister for about three years. During that tenure I have taken and implemented various activities for the development of the ministry concerned. The development activities of the bridge department were boosted after I took the responsibility as the minister. I took 11 projects including construction of Padma Bridge and started implementing some of the projects”, he further said.
“Gradually the implementation of the projects adopted in my time will be visible in near future. The people of the country will soon start reaping the benefits of these projects,” he said.
Despite having vast potentials, once many industries in the Khulna division were shut down. Experts opined that due to lack of communication, infrastructure, and gas connection Khulna region is economically backward. However, for the Padma Bridge, the situation is now expected to change.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Director (Khulna Divisional Office) Pronab Kumar Roy told journalists that, “Entrepreneurs are interested to invest in building new industries in the region. This will also help to increase job employment opportunities.”
In the last four years, 114 small, large and medium enterprises have been established in 10 districts of Khulna division. Among them, there are jute and textile, LP Gas, auto rice mill, fish hatchery and frozen fish processing factory, food and allied products, cattle, poultry and fish feed, engineering industry, chemical industry, pharmaceutical, fertilizer, cold storage, cold storage particleboard processing, dockyard industry, service industry, dairy products and dairy farm, automatic brickfield, plastic products, construction industry, poultry hatchery, power plant and leather and tannery industry.
Once the bridge is open to traffic, districts that will gain benefit from the Padma Bridge economically are Bagerhat, Jashore, Satkhira, Narail, Kushtia, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Magura, Barishal, Pirojpur, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, and Jhalokati (Barishal), Gopalganj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, and Rajbari.
Kazi Aminul Haque, president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (KCCI) told The Bangladesh Post, “Actually it’s not possible to describe in words what benefits we are going to have. Economic engagement in our region will grow significantly. Factories will be built in this region due to faster connectivity with the ports. It will also increase the export of frozen fish and jute products from Khulna division.”
He also hoped that the Padma Bridge will increase the mobility of Mongla, the country's second-largest seaport. Traders from different parts of the country including the capital will be encouraged to export and import goods through Mongla port in a short period.
Apart from Padma Bridge, there are several other mega projects in the region. These include airport in Bagerhat, Khulna-Mongla Railway, Khulna Agricultural University, two EPZs in Jessore, Sheikh Hasina Medical University in Khulna, gas pipeline connection, Mongla the second largest seaport, Nawapara industrial area river port, Benapole the largest land port, Bhomra and Darshana land port development, direct train communication from Benapole to Dhaka and many more.
The dream of Padma Multipurpose Bridge has been materialised with the installation of the very last (41st) span on Thursday last week. The bridge will open for use in March 2022 and by that time the construction of the rail track on the lower deck and road on the upper deck will be completed, bridge division sources said.
According to Padma Bridge engineers, a lot of construction-related work is yet to be done even after installing the spans. The remaining works as per schedule are supposed to take around two more years. But the authorities concerned have instructed the contractors to complete the rest of the work within a year. Road division, bridge lighting, and road marking will be conducted simultaneously after the installation of road and railway slab concrete casting.
The 6.15-kilometer Padma Bridge is also expected to facilitate agriculture development in the southern region, known as the granaries of the country.
It will also boost the image of the country abroad since it will connect the country to the Trans Asian Network.