We Hope To Complete Padma Bridge With Our Own Funding Within Stipulated Time: PM

Bangladesh Premier stressed the need for completion of the much-awaited Padma Bridge on time and called upon all to stay alert so that no more obstruction stands on the way to implementation of the mega project.

"Massive tossing and moving took place regarding the construction of Padma Bridge and there was other game about it. Former World Bank President on his last working day suspended funding of the mega project due to the provocation of a quarter of the country," she said

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the high officials of the Communications Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat.

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader gave the welcome address, while Secretary of Road Division M A N Siddique, Secretary of Bridge Division Khondakar Anwarul Islam and PM's Press Secretary A K M Shamim Chowdhury, among others, were present.

The Prime Minister said the government had challenged the graft allegation of the World Bank and wanted documents that what corruption took place in the project. "But the documents they provided were about the Dhaka-Mymensingh four-lane road," she said.

She said after completing the all preparatory works, the government is implementing the mega project through its own funding.

The Prime Minister said the government has inked an agreement with the China Major Bridge Company Ltd for construction of the main Padma Bridge and the company has been given the work order.

She mentioned that the evaluation work on the financial tender for the river training work on both sides of the river is going on. "I hope that giving work order to this would be possible by this month," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the double-deck Padma Bridge and the tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong would be unique infrastructures of the country as her government wants to do something new for the countrymen.

The Prime Minister asked the Communications Ministry officials to remain alert so that the Padma Bridge could be completed smoothly. "Why the country which earned independence through war could not construct a bridge," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said there is no crisis of foreign currencies as the country has now a reserve of over US $ 21 billion. "There would be no problem if two billion dollars are spent from the reserve for the bridge," she said.

Terming durable communication system as a criterion of the country's development, the Prime Minister said her government has been working ceaselessly for the development of the communication network.

"As per our election commitment, we have been working relentlessly for the development of communication system. And the officials and employees of the Communication Ministry are main force in this work," she said.

She said her government had undertaken 146 projects in the last five years for building a sustainable, safe and quality road infrastructure and modern public transportation system.

Of the projects, she said, 100 were completed and the work of the rest projects is going on.

Sheikh Hasina said the government is implementing 121 projects including metro rail, construction of the second Kachpur, second Meghna and second Gumti bridges, upgardation of Dhaka-Chittagong National Highway, Joydevpur-Chandra-Tangail- Elenga National Highway and Joydevpur-Mymensingh National Highway to four lanes and Eastern Bangladesh Bridge Improvement Project.

The Prime Minister said her government has taken necessary measures for implementing the Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 from Uttara to Motijheel under the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA).

"The cabinet in principle has approved the Metro Rail Law, 2014 and I hope that the people of the country can travel in the metro rail by 2019," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has constructed 1,266 kilometer new roads across the country in the last five years only under the Road Division. Besides about 3,000 km roads have been widened and strengthened and 43,000 meter concrete bridges were constructed during the period.

The Prime Minister said 41 large bridges were constructed in the last five years and the work on constructing more bridges has been undertaken.

The Prime Minister said a feasibility study on constructing a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong has been completed. About Taka 5,600 crore would be spent for construction of the 3.40 kilometer tunnel, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Chinese government. With the implementation of the project, she said, new mills and factories would be constructed on the other side of the Karnaphuli River.

Besides, she said, direct road communication between Sonadia Deep Seaport and Dhaka and Chitagong will be established in future and it would be linked with the Asian Highway. "I hope that we could start its construction work soon," she said.

The Prime Minister said her government hopes that the construction work on the 46-km Elevated Expressway from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Kutubkhali of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway would begin by September this year.

Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to take initiatives including feasibility study to construct underground rail line in the capital to ensure smooth commuting.

She also announced that Dhaka-Sylhet highway would be upgraded into four lanes and a multipurpose tunnel with road and railway lines would be built under the river Jamuna to link Gaibandha and Jamalpur districts.

The Prime Minister directed the officials of the ministry to give emphasis on the proper maintenance of roads along with the construction of new roads. In this context, she asked them to minimise the sufferings of the people.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is moving fast and will further advance. "Bangladesh is not dependent to others now. We are a model of development. So let us come to devote ourselves to the country's welfare," she said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)