Staff Reporter: The much-awaited Padma Bridge will be opened for traffic on June 25 after the completion of construction work.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Padma Bridge at 10 am on that day. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the bridge would be named after the river Padma.
Obaidul Quader went to Ganobhaban on Tuesday afternoon to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss the inauguration and naming of the Padma Bridge.
“The much-awaited Padma Bridge, everyone is interested to know when it will be inaugurated. I am giving you that good news,” he told reporters waiting to come out.
“The daughter of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister, Desaratna Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Padma Bridge on Saturday, June 25 at 10 am.”
Obaidul Quader said, “Another thing, we brought two summaries, one summary inauguration, he signed with date 25 June. In another summary, he did not sign it.
He (Prime Minister) said, “The Padma Bridge will be named after the river Padma. I will not give it to anyone else. It will not be in the name of anyone in the Bangabandhu family. “
Asked who would be invited to the inauguration of the bridge, the minister said, “Everyone will be invited, those who are more vocal will be invited first.”
The Awami League leaders and workers have demanded to name this bridge ‘Sheikh Hasina Bridge’ for establishing direct communication between the capital with the southern districts. There has been supporting from various quarters. However, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina did not agree.
Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 6.15 km long bridge on the banks of the river Padma at her own expense at a cost of TK 30,000 crore in December 2015.
Then on September 30, 2017, the first span sat on the poles number 37 and 38. If soft soil is found under 22 poles in between, the design needs to be modified. It takes extra time, about a year.
Coronavirus epidemics and floods also slow down work. The 32nd span was installed in October after overcoming all obstacles. Then the rest of the spans are placed in a short time. Exactly five years later, the dream bridge gets full shape, and the two banks of the Padma are connected.
There was a discussion that the Padma Bridge may be inaugurated on June 23, the founding anniversary of the Awami League. However, the bridge minister later informed us that the Padma bridge would be inaugurated in June, but not on June 23.
