While addressing a civic rally in Munshiganj on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said the completion of the Padma Bridge construction with own funds has brought the nation to an exalted position in the world as it changed the mindset of the international community towards the country. Now the people of Bangladesh can move with pride in the international arena after the construction of the Padma Bridge.
We have the utmost respect for Sheikh Hasina’s leadership and sagacity. Apart from the people of the country, global leaders have also highly praised the continued leadership of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and the remarkable economic growth of Bangladesh under her leadership. Everyone notices Bangladesh’s economic growth. They (global leaders) are also amazed how Bangladesh so rapidly achieved high economic growth and how the country is going to be transformed into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh through socio-economic development by 2041. It is needless to say that Sheikh Hasina has commanded high respect from all at home and abroad.
Padma Bridge has opened
the door for socio-economic
advancement in the
southwestern region of
the country
The Padma Bridge was opened to traffic on June 26 in 2022 as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the multipurpose bridge on June 25. Since then people of the southwestern region have been very happy after reaching their destinations earlier by crossing the long-cherished Padma Multipurpose Bridge, the symbol of self-confidence. People are now driving straight to Dhaka by road, leaving the awful nightmare of ferry ghat, as they are now crossing the river in just six minutes over the bridge. Those who travel from Dhaka to Khulna and Barisal by bus, coach, and other vehicles express joy, saying it is unbelievable. The Padma Bridge has opened the door for socio-economic advancement in the southwestern region of the country. People now reach Barisal within three hours from Dhaka via Padma Bridge while people of the Khulna region need four to five hours. Apart from the passengers, drivers and helpers of goods-laden trucks, covered vans and pickup vans, echo the same voices, saying they never had such a smooth and wonderful journey on the highway as they are now doing.
They could not even imagine that they would be able to cross the river in this way. It was a regular scenario in the past that hundreds of buses, coaches, cars, goods-laden trucks, covered vans, pickup-vans and other vehicles used to remain stranded at Paturia- Daulatdia and Shimulia-Kathalbari ferry ghats due to the suspension of ferry service caused by bad weather, dense fog, lack of navigability and strong currents on the Padma River almost every day.
Besides, the shortage of ferries also added salts into wounds. People had to wait an average of 2-3 hours to cross the mighty river Padma on the ferries. But when the ferry service remained suspended due to foul weather, dense fog, lack of navigability and strong currents on the Padma River, they had to wait 18 to 20 hours.
But now it has been trimmed down to less than 10 minutes. Therefore, the long 12-13 hour or 18-20 hour journeys for the people in the southwest to reach the capital are now a thing of the past.
All have to play a responsible role in crossing the Padma Bridge as it is a very important national establishment and one of the biggest assets of the country. It is the responsibility of all to ensure security of the bridge and sustainability and maintain discipline on it.
