Quader vows to build Padma bridge

Obaidul Quader, Awami League presidium member, has determined that starting construction of the Padma bridge will be his most important job once he takes charge as communications minister, reports bdnews24.com. "Implementation of the Padma Bridge is a distant dream. I will not set a deadline for beginning or completing the construction," he said in reaction to Monday morning's reshuffle in the cabinet. "The target is to start the construction. I will show that in my work," he told reporters at the parliament's Media Centre Monday afternoon. Beginning the construction of the multipurpose project at the earliest is his priority, said Quader who got the portfolio five days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inducted him in the cabinet. The new communications minister declined commenting on the World Bank's suspension of US$ 1-2 billion loan for the bridge project. "A new journey has begun. I like the impossible and enjoy the challenge. Now the target is to start. It'll take a few years for implementation." Padma bridge project has been regarded as the top priority project of the government. It is the biggest infrastructure project of the country having financial involvement of $2.9 billion. The bridge, expected to be completed by 2014, will connect 19 southwestern districts of the country with the capital city. Early in October, the World Bank suspended its funding for the project following allegations of corruption in river dredging, appointment of consultants and selection of pre-qualified contractors on the project. The Awami League presidium member said that he would work with sincerity and honesty to reduce public sufferings for the next two years of the government in the office. "I wouldn't make big pledges, rather work on the basis of priority. To give relief to the people by reducing their sufferings will be my first work." Mr Quader remarked that the reshuffle in the cabinet would bring dynamism in the functioning of the government.