Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina dedicated the long-awaited Padma Bridge to the people of Bangladesh in a rousing speech at the Mawa point of Munshiganj yesterday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the Padma Bridge on Saturday, June 25, 2022 Focus Bangla"Today, I am happy, proud and overwhelmed along with millions of people in the country. This bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh and it involves all our passion, creativity, courage, endurance and perseverance,” the prime minister said.
In her long speech sketching the whole journey of the bridge, Sheikh Hasina pointed out the internal and external conspiracies which once made the gigantic mission almost impossible.
"Ignoring many obstacles and breaking the web of conspiracy, today the much-desired bridge stands on the chest of the turbulent Padma river. This bridge is a symbol of our pride, our honour and ability.”
"On this day of joy, there is no hatred, no animosity towards anyone. Today, I will just pray that good sense will prevail upon the conspirators. They should not play with the fate of the common people," the prime minister saidsaid.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam delivered the welcome address at the function with Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader in the chair.
A reflection of daring Bangladesh
Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneThe prime minister called the 41 spans of the bridge “a reflection of daring Bangladesh.” Quoting Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina said: "No one can suppress Bengalis."
"And finally, we have become victorious," she said.
The Bangalee nation never bows its head and the Father of the Nation did not bow his head as he did not teach us to bow our head, Sheikh Hasina said.
"Standing on the gallows, he (Bangabandhu) sang the triumph of life," she continued.
Under his leadership, Bangladesh snatched the red sun of independence through 23 years of political struggle and nine months of Liberation War, she said.
Following his footsteps, Bangladesh today stands with its head high in the comity of nation, the prime minister added.
"On this day of joy, there is no hatred, no animosity towards anyone. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of the country," the prime minister said.
She also said: "Having lost my parents and relatives, I came into politics hoping to do something for the people of this country".
She said she has been working with the aim of establishing a happy and prosperous golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.
"Today, I will just pray that good sense will prevail upon the conspirators. They should not play with the fate of the common people," she said.
PM thanks family
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina takes part in prayers after inaugurating 'Padma Bridge' at Mawa end of Munshiganj, on Saturday, June 25, 2022 PID"My family members, younger sister Sheikh Rehana and her son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, my son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were defamed and false information was spread against them," she added.
The prime minister also acknowledged the suffering some of her former colleagues had to go through due to false complaints of corruption.
“My Economic Adviser Dr Moshiur Rahman, former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and Communications Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, suffered extreme mental agonies because of the conspiracies orchestrated by certain quarters at the planning stage of the construction of this bridge," she said.
"Padma Bridge is the answer to all these insults," she added.
The economic transformation
The premier said Bangladesh has now qualified to become a developing country from least developed one.
By 2030-31, Bangladesh will emerge on the world map as a high-middle income country with SDG implementation and by 2041 as a developed and prosperous country, she added.
After the launch of the bridge, it will be possible to establish direct communication between the capital Dhaka and 21 districts in the southern part of the country by road and rail, she said.
The premier said that this will end the long-standing sufferings of the people of the region on the one hand, and accelerate the economy on the other hand.
"Their business will expand and their standard of living will be improved. The bridge is expected to contribute 1.23 percent to GDP growth and reduce poverty per year," she said.
New economic zones and high-tech parks will be built centering the bridge, she said, adding that as a result, domestic and foreign investment will be attracted and the pace of industrialization of the country will be accelerated.
Sheikh Hasina went on to say that the Padma Bridge would be a major link to the Asian Highway.
"So, the role of this bridge in regional trade is immense. Moreover, the tourism industry will also flourish on both sides of the Padma," she said.
Memorial stamp, Tk100 bank note unveiled
Bangla TribuneSheikh Hasina, at the inaugural ceremony, released a commemorative postage stamp, souvenir sheets and opening day cover to mark the historic moment of the grand opening of the largest bridge of the country, the Padma Bridge.
She unveiled a postage stamp of Taka 10, a first day cover of Taka 10, four souvenir sheets of Taka 50 each and a data card of Taka 5.
The PM also unveiled a commemorative Taka 100 note marking the historic moment of the grand opening. The note was imprinted with photographs of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the frontal side with a picture of Padma Bridge imprinted in the background.
PM unveils Padma Bridge plaque, mural at Mawa point
The plaque of the Padma Bridge was unveiled by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 11:58 a.m. on Saturday at the Mawa end of Munshiganj.
After the inauguration ceremony, the PM paid the toll on the Padma Bridge with her convoy at 11:48am. The porcelain mural portrayed the faces of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the left in black and white color and a colourful image of PM Sheikh Hasina on the right depicting the contributions of the father and daughter duo.
With that ceremony, the Padma Bridge was officially inaugurated.
With reporting from UNB and BSS
