HPM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates construction of expressway connecting Padma Bridge

"In his whole life Bangabandhu had struggled for bringing smile on the faces of his people. Now this responsibility has been bestowed upon us and we're making our relentless efforts to accomplish the task," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating a number of development projects including country's first four-lane national expressway from Jatrabari to Mawa and Pachchar to Bhanga, connecting Padma Bridge through video conference from her Gonobhaban residence here on Saturday.

The Prime Minister inaugurated operational activities of the Paira Bandar, country's first eight-lane Jatrabari-Kanchpur National Highway, 100 percent electricity coverage in six upazilas under Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Sheikh Russell Digital Lab (Computer and Language Training Lab) at educational institutions across the country.

Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Division Obaidul Quader, Army Chief General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq, PM's Advisor Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ICT Ministry Imran Ahmed also spoke on the occasion from Gonobhaban side.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad moderated the programme attended by secretaries and senior officials of the concerned ministries and divisions.

Under the project for setting up of Sheikh Russell Digital Lab (Computer and Language Training Lab) at educational institutions across the country, the ICT ministry has already set up 2001 computer labs and 65 language labs in different educational institution in the first phase.

Inaugurating the "Sheikh Russell Digital Lab (Computer and Language Training Lab) Project" at educational institutions across the country the Prime Minister said the labs would bring change in the method of learning introducing modern technology in the education system instead of traditional learning system.

Teachers are also being given training to make them able to teach the students, and laptops and computers were also given in the schools, she said in future every school child would have the opportunity to take lesson through computer.

Grief engrossed the Prime Minister at one stage of her speech as she recalled the memories of Sheikh Russell, youngest son of Bangabandhu, who was brutally killed by assailants on the fateful night of august 15, 1975. The labs were named after him.

Sheikh Hasina hoped that children of present generation would lead the country much better way in future. She urged everybody to play due role to protect the future generation from the influence of militancy and terrorism. The Prime Minister distributed laptops and books among the successful students in essay writing and cultural competitions.

Inaugurating country's first eight-lane Jatrabari-Kanchpur National Highway and construction works of country's first four-lane national expressway from Jatrabari to Mawa and Pachchar to Bhanga, connecting Padma Bridge, the Prime Minister said the two roads would play epoch-making role in the country's economic progress.

About 7.2 kilometer eight-lane national highway from Jatrabari to Kanchpur has been constructed by Roads and Highways Department at a cost of Taka 131.99 crore. The eight-lane highway would help quick exit of transports from Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover to their destinations.

Roads and Highways Department and Special Works Organization (West) of Bangladesh Army would construct the four-lane national expressway from Jatrabari to Mawa and Pachchar to Bhanga, connecting the Padma Bridge.

The 55-kilometer expressway would be constructed at an estimated cost of Taka 6252.28 crore. The expressway would have 31 bridges, six flyovers, four railway overpasses, 15 underpasses and three interchange. Construction of the expressway is scheduled to be complete by April 2019.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol