BD gets respect in world for Padma Bridge: PM

Describing the Padma Bridge as a symbol of pride, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the international community now shows due respect to Bangladesh as the bridge was constructed with own finance, reports BSS.

"People now show respect when they heard the name of Bangladesh on the international stage. The people of Bangladesh have reached a dignified position," she said while addressing a civic rally as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the Padma Bridge construction work at Mawa end.

She said the mentality about Bangladesh that it can't do anything without their (foreigners) support has changed after the construction of the Padma Bridge with own finance.

"The Padma Bride is a bridge of our pride . . . the one decision (to build Padma Bridge with own finance) has given Bangladesh dignity. Those who always did bossing on us and thought that Bangladesh would not move on without their support have now changed their mentality," she said.

The Prime Minister recalled the local and international conspiracies to stop the construction of the Padma Bridge.

"We had to build the Padma Bridge overcoming many barriers. We have built the bridge entirely with the money of the people of Bangladesh," she said.

The Padma Bridge has opened the door to making socio-economic advancement of the south-western region, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was internationally considered as a country of beggars because the post-1975 governments did nothing for the development of the country.

"It was very disgraceful because we were considered as the nation of beggars," she said.

After assuming power in 1996, the Prime Minister said, they have only one target to take Bangladesh to a dignified position on the global stage. "We have done it successfully."

The Premier said a nation which liberated its country by shedding blood can never move ahead keeping the head down.

She vowed that Bangladesh will march ahead to become a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041 with an indomitable pace confronting all the hurdles.

"We must march ahead overcoming all the obstacles whatever may come by implementing the ideal of the Father of the Nation," she said.

The Premier said her government has been implementing the perspective plan 2021-41 and Delta Plan-2100 to ensure a improved and better life for generations after generations.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader presided over the event.

Former Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam and Senior Secretary of the Bridges Division Md. Monjur Hossain and Director of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project Md Shafiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion.

A documentary on the Padma Bridge, a symbol of Bangladesh's pride and capability, was screened at the function.

Local artistes performed choreography on the theme song of the Padma Bridge and the history along with culture of Munshiganj.

On June 25, 2022, the Prime Minister opened the country's largest bridge -- 6.15-km Padma Bridge -- over the mighty river.

The Padma Bridge project was completed with entirely own finance on June 30, 2024 at a cost of Tk 307.70 billion (Tk 30,770.13 crore).

A total of Tk 16.61 billion (Tk 1,661 crore) was collected in toll from the Padma Bridge since its operation on June 26 in 2022.

The construction work of the Padma Bridge began on December 12 in 2015.

The Prime Minister formally laid the foundation stone of Padma Bridge at Mawa in Munshiganj on July 4 in 2001.