Padma Bridge to be completed by 2018, reaffirms PM

FE Team | Published: September 20, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: September 19, 2014 23:16:41

TUNGIPARA (Gopalganj), Sept 19 (UNB): Terming the allegation of corruption in the Padma Bridge project a conspiracy against her government, Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Friday reiterated that the construction of the dream bridge would be completed by 2018.
"Construction of the dream project (Padma Bridge) will be completed by 2018 as the river training and construction work on the bridge are going to begin simultaneously," she said.
The PM was addressing Shudhi Samabesh (civic rally) after the inauguration of a number of projects for Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas of Gopalganj district. Gopalganj district administration arranged the rally.
Bangladesh has already signed a deal with China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited for the construction of the main structure of the 6.15-km Padma Bridge.
Without mentioning any individual or organisation's name, Hasina said they had spread lies against her government bringing the allegation of corruption in this project. "We challenged it, and now it has been proved their allegation was baseless and intentional," she said.
Hasina went on to say, "The allegation against our government over the Padma Bridge was a conspiracy against us. We finally rejected their financial offer and announced that the bridge will be built with our own resources."
She said there is a section of people in the country who do not like the government's development activities. "They always try to find faults and imperfection in our activities."
The prime minister said television channels and air conditioned rooms are their preferred places from where they throw their criticisms against the government. "We've allowed those private television channels and helped them to stay alive through providing uninterrupted power supply."
"They have got crazy for power, but don't have the quality to go to people and win their support," she said branding them as the friends and bootlickers of the anti-liberation forces and ghosts for Yahia.
Hasina said though her government allowed private TV channels and provided electricity, there is a section of people who always criticise the government sitting from the TV channels.
Expressing her firm resolve to make Bangladesh a self-reliant country, the prime minister said Bangladesh would certainly stand on its own feet. "And the nation will be built as a modern, educated one. We would not beg from others."
Earlier, the prime minister arrived here on a daylong visit in the morning.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, AL's religious affairs secretary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and local AL leaders spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated power connections to 12,000 families of 55 villages under the Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas, Tungipara 5-KVA Power Sub-Station, 30-kilowatt solar panel at Tungipara Upazila Parishad Building, a 39-metre Guarder Bridge on Razapur Kheyaghat-Jaharerkandi Road, a 17- metre RCC Guarder Bridge on Purba Latenga-Pashchim Latenga Road and a 30.05-metre Guarder Bridge on Bandhabari Union Parishad-Bhai Bhai Bazar Road under Kotalipara Upazila and Tungipara Upazila Sonali Bank Bhaban.