Bridge to be named just Padma Bridge, says PM

The long-awaited Padma bridge is nearly ready to open, reports bdnews24.com.
Following a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, the cabinet secretary said the date of the bridge's inauguration will be set by the prime minister in the next few days.
"The honourable prime minister will herself give details on our discussion regarding the Padma bridge within the next five to six days," Khandker Anwarul Islam said. "She said the Padma Bridge will be inaugurated in June. We are ready."
Asked what the name of the Padma bridge would be, the cabinet secretary said:
"The prime minister said it will just be named Padma Bridge. She may clarify the matter in the next three to four days."
Awami League activists and leaders want the bridge to be named the 'Sheikh Hasina Bridge'.
"We hope the bridge will be ready by the last week of the month," the cabinet secretary said.
A few days ago, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the Padma bridge was 98 per cent complete and would be inaugurated in June.
Sheikh Hasina launched the construction of the 6,000-km long bridge across the Padma River at a cost of Tk 300 billion in 2015. Bangladesh is funding the massive infrastructure project from its own coffers.
The utmost quality has been ensured in the bridge's construction, Khandaker Anwarul said.
"Whenever bridges are constructed, the standard tolls are set at one-and-a-half times the ferry fare," he said in response to a question about the criticism of the high Padma bridge toll. "The tolls for the bridge were set accordingly."
"Bangabandhu Bridge is nearly 5 km in length and this one is 9.86 km (including the link roads), so nearly double. The ferry situation is different as well. When Bangabandhu Bridge tolls were set, they were done according to the 1995-96 ferry fare.