Padma Bridge is not just a single critical infrastructure, but also, it evolves into an entire project integrating a communication system, with a sustainable ecosystem.
The coastal landscape of Bangladesh is predominantly shaped by the confluence of three large rivers: The Ganges-Padma, Brahmaputra-Jamuna, and Meghna (GBM), forming the largest delta in the world and delivering an enormous amount of sediment to the Bay of Bengal. The Padma River divides the southwestern zone from Bangladesh's northern and eastern regions.
It is estimated that the bridge would help grow Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.3% annually. According to the report of CPD, it is estimated that southwestern districts will add another 2% to the GDP. At 2.5% of the $450 billion GDP, more than $10 billion will come from the bridge during its economic life.
As such, the benefits will be at least three and a half times more than the construction cost. The duration of crossing the mighty Padma River reduces significantly and the distance is reduced from the southwest region to Dhaka, the country’s capital, by more than 100km. Eventually, it also brings savings in passenger and commodity movement time and costs.
Padma Bridge is a critical infrastructure that acts as a pillar of resilience for 21 districts of the southwestern part of Bangladesh. According to the report of the Nationwide Climate Vulnerability Assessment in Bangladesh, the adaptive capacity of the region is perceived to be low, being highly susceptible to several natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, tidal surges, and coastal floods.
The lack of sustainable transportation facilities by road, with a combination of high-level exposure and sensitivity used to align with a low level of adaptive capacity, made this region at particular risk in the future climate change scenario. With the establishment of the Padma Bridge, the most vulnerable districts to climate change get assurance of aid in the shortest time during any natural calamities.
According to the report on Mainstreaming Climate Change at BRAC, it noted that Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, and Jashore are classified as Western Coastal Regions; Barguna, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Bhola, and Barisal are classified as Central Coastal Region -- among 41 most vulnerable districts to climate change in Bangladesh.
It is evident that investing in critical infrastructure has been an efficient approach to mitigate mortality, people affected, and overall losses from natural hazards as well as climate change impact.
The first SDG is to remove poverty for sustainable development. Low-income individuals and communities are more exposed to environmental hazards and pollution, and have a harder time recovering from the impacts of climate change.
Due to climate change, salinity has increased in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. Farmers are unable to grow all types of crops but now, they can grow salt-tolerant crops more and get encouraged to trade them easily to the city or other places through the Padma Bridge.
However, their income will be increasing day by day with good transportation networks and the rate of poverty will be decreasing in the long run. Besides this, many other agricultural industries, tourism, etc are going to be developed in a sustainable way due to the Padma Bridge.
SDG 13 is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. Climate change is a real and inevitable threat to our entire civilization, especially the community of the southwestern region of Bangladesh. Through proper education, innovation, and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the changes toward sustainable development. Padma Bridge can make this path easier.
Providing knowledge and education through NGOs or other organizations becomes easier. They can now complete their task more efficiently due to the Padma Bridge. Therefore, employment opportunities will increase as well. Thus, the first SDG can be achieved in the southwestern part of Bangladesh within a short period.
Along with SDGs, Bangladesh Government’s Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan will be also in alignment with achieving prosperity through the establishment of Padma Bridge. Padma Bridge is a commitment to strengthening resilience to climate change among one of the most vulnerable communities of the southwestern coastal people of Bangladesh.
Maliha Masfiqua Malek is currently working at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) as a Research Officer. She is enthusiastic about working in coastal areas in the context of climate change impact. She can be reached at maliha.malek@icccad.org.
Gausia Islam Keya is currently working at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) as a Research Associate. She is interested in climate change impact through a gender lens as well as adaptation practices. She can be reached at gausia.islam@icccad.org.