Bangladesh has observed the opening of the much-awaited Padma Bridge on Saturday.
This is another milestone for the country and the present government, as the megastructure took 25 long years to come to fruition.The following is a timeline of the major steps that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken to make the dream bridge a reality.
Government takes initiative to build the Padma Bridge.
Bangabandhu Bridge was inaugurated on June 23, 1998 in the Jamuna. At that time, an initiative was taken to build a bridge over the Padma to facilitate communication with the south-western part of the country.
1999
Pre-feasibility study with government financing.
June 4, 2001
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lays the foundation stone of the project.
2003-2005
Feasibility study with Jica financing.
Based on a feasibility study by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), the government announces in July 2004 that the Padma Bridge will be built between Mawa and Zajira.
2007
Ecnec approves the Padma Bridge project at an estimation of Tk101.61 billion.
2010
Bangladesh Bridge Authority invites pre-qualification tender.
2011
January: Ecnec okays revised plan with an estimated cost of Tk205.07 billion.
February: World Bank board approves $1.2 billion financing.
April: World Bank signs the deal with the government.
July: For the construction of the main bridge, the government selects five pre-qualified bidders –Samsung C&T Corporation of South Korea, China Major Bridge Engineering Co Ltd, Daelim-Bam-VCI (a joint venture entity of South Korea), Vinci-HCC (a joint venture of France and India) and China Communication Construction Company Ltd.
September: WB sends a letter to the finance minister alleging bribe conspiracy in the project.
2012
January: After a probe, the ACC says its investigation found no tangible evidence of corruption.
Malaysia proposes a $2.19 billion loan for the bridge project.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says the World Bank has to prove the corruption allegations or else Bangladesh will not accept the fund.
March: Malaysian cabinet approves Padma Bridge project funding.
Chinese Ambassador Li Jun says his government will consider if the Bangladesh government makes a formal proposal
for financing of the project.
April: Bangladesh signs an agreement with Malaysia on the Padma Bridge project finance
June: WB announces scrapping of the Padma Bridge financing.
China expresses interest in financing the second Padma Bridge.
July: Prime Minister tells Parliament her government will construct the Padma Bridge with the country’s own funds.
2013
February: Chinese firm offers to construct the Padma Bridge and arrange a $2bn loan from the China Development Bank.
July: Chinese state-owned company Poly Technologies Incorporation proposes a special investment of $2.4bn on a “build-own-operate-transfer” (BOOT) basis.
The government floats an international tender for the construction of the 6.15km-long bridge. Four companies – China Major Bridge Engineering Company, Daelim-L&T JV and Samsung C&T Corporation – collect purchase tender papers.
2014
China Major Bridge Engineering Company Ltd is awarded the Tk121.32 billion contract to build the main bridge.
2015
Test piling work begins at the bridge site.
In December, PM inaugurates the construction work of the Padma Bridge.
2016
Ecnec approves the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
2017
January: Canadian court finds no proof of Padma Bridge bribery conspiracy.
September 30: First span of the 41-span bridge is installed on 37th and 38th piers.
2018
April: ERD inks a Tk210.36 billion loan agreement with Exim Bank of China for the rail link project.
October: Prime minister unveils the name plaque of the Padma Bridge at Mawa end and opens work on the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
2020
December
On December 10, the last span of the Padma Bridge is placed on Pillars 12 and 13, connecting the two banks of the mighty Padma River.
2022
May
On May 17, the government issues a notification to fix toll rates on the Padma Bridge.
On 29, government finalizes the name of Padma Bridge.
June
Inauguration of the dream bridge takes place on June 25.