Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hailed the installation of the first span of the long-awaited Padma Bridge project as evidence that Bangladesh can achieve “whatever we want” with the right will and determination.
The premier congratulated the people of Bangladesh both at home and abroad for extending their support to help complete the challenging engineering project that will connect the southern region of Bangladesh with Dhaka.
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“We have set a stark example in the world by constructing this huge bridge over such a big river with strong current; I am very happy,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The prime minister was speaking during a meeting with leaders of the Awami League’s US branch and its front organisations at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Washington, DC on Sunday evening.
“We, the Bangali nation, fought and liberated the country…We can do whatever we want if we have honest will and determination,” an emotionally-charged prime minister said.
“We do politics for the people, we do work for the people. And we have proven that we can.”
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Sheikh Hasina recalled her government’s decision to finance the mega project from its own funds after the World Bank had withdrawn its loan offer amid corruption claims which were later dismissed.
“It was a big challenge, a big decision of Bangladesh (to finance the project from its own fund) as it is linked with the image of the country,” she said.
The prime minister had defied doctors’ advice for complete rest after surgery by meeting her party leaders in the US. Afterwards, her Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters