The Padma Bridge, the dream of the Bengali nation, will be inaugurated on June 25. It will be opened for the travel of the entire country. Prime Minister Desaratna Sheikh Hasina’s single effort and courageous initiative in the face of various evil forces, domestic and foreign enemies and the various conspiracies of the opposition, the Padma Bridge is going to be launched to the surprise of the world and the emotions of the Bengali nation. It is not just a bridge or a steel structure. The Padma Bridge is an emotional name for us and the people of the South. Another name for pride and courage is the Padma Bridge. This bridge is a symbol of development and capability of Bangladesh.
This bridge symbolizes the sharpness of skill and talent of Bangladesh Awami League. This bridge symbolizes the progress of building the golden Bengal of the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. One of the brightest milestones in our struggle for economic liberation. As I write this sub-editorial today, the whole world is watching the Padma Bridge, a symbol of our self-reliance and the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with great interest and enthusiasm. The 6.15 km long bridge would have been opened long ago if the world had not been infected with the corona virus. Sheikh Hasina, the forerunner of the liberation and development of the Bengali nation, has taken the work of the Padma Bridge forward by tackling various challenges and notoriety since the adoption of the bridge construction plan.
The present government has had to face various conspiracies, technical and financial challenges of the opposition political organizations from the very beginning of planning for the construction of the bridge. A mega project like the Padma Bridge will show a unique path of economic liberation for us and the people of the South. Unemployment rate will come down. The curse of unemployment in the south will disappear. Mothers and sisters will become self-reliant. Under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan on that day with the spontaneous participation of common people of all walks of life including leaders and activists of Bangladesh Awami League. In the same way, when different people are involved in various conspiracies over the Padma Bridge, we have been able to complete such a challenging project on our own through the courageous efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the overall participation of the people of the country without caring about the conspiracies of the conspirators.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has taught us the culture and courage to overcome adversity and succeed. On page 234 of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s book ‘The Unfinished memories’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman spoke of building our own country and devoting all our energies towards the economic and political emancipation of the people. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has dedicated his life for the independence of our country and later for the development of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu devoted himself to the struggle to transform his country into a golden Bengal by capitalizing on the vitality of invincible people. We can see the natural spread of efficient leadership like Bangabandhu even in his daughter Sheikh Hasina. Aiming to build the golden Bengal of Bangabandhu’s dream. Bangabandhu’s daughter Deshratna Sheikh Hasina who is the builder of modern Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina is the epitome of a developed and prosperous digital Bangladesh. The only faithful address of the hopes and aspirations of the Bengalis, the dreamer of the Bengalis’ world conquest.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her own initiative on July 4, 2001 officially laid the foundation stone of the Padma Bridge near Mawa Ferry Ghat. But the construction of the bridge came to a halt due to the inferiority complex of several political organizations including the BNP. Returning to power in the 2009 elections, Sheikh Hasina considered the construction of the Padma Bridge as nationally important and took various initiatives, struggles and programs to implement it again. Initially, the Asian Development Bank, JICA and IDB were partners in financing the Padma Bridge, but later the World Bank was involved. All these banks also helped in the construction of Bangabandhu Bridge. In this context, the Government of Bangladesh, in good faith, involved the World Bank as a partner in the construction of the Padma Bridge.
In the end, the World Bank did not live up to that trust in financing the proposed 1.2 billion project. The expatriates wanted to directly help the government in building the Padma bridge. The efforts of expatriate workers to do something for the country have always been remarkable. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the expatriates on behalf of Hon’ble Prime Minister Desaratna Sheikh Hasina through this editorial. At the same time, I am hopeful that our expatriate brothers and sisters will surely be overwhelmed, proud and honored to see the inauguration ceremony of the Padma Bridge.
On the other hand, the cost of the project also increased naturally as the work could not be completed on time due to various adversities. And many people are confusing the people about this extra cost. Dear reader, like you, I have no shortage of passion and excitement about the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. Because it’s not just a bridge. It is not just a means of communication. This Padma bridge is our dream. This bridge is a sign of self-reliance of our independent country. Many people have criticized the construction time of this bridge. Eventually, with the implementation of the bridge, all speculations and rumors have faded. Among the specialties of the Padma Bridge, the fact that its own financing and performance can be done alone was beyond our imagination for so long. But it is no longer an external object of thought, it is present and real today.
Tomorrow, June 26, the people of Bangladesh will start getting the benefits of the bridge. The 6.15 km long road and rail bridge over the Padma, the second longest river in Bangladesh, is the main bridge in the country and one of the largest in the world. This bridge is a wonder for South Asia. It is expected that an average of 75,000 vehicles will pass through the bridge every day when the activities start in full swing. The bridge will directly connect the southern region including Munshiganj, Shariatpur and Madaripur districts and will connect the north-eastern part with the south-western part of the country. In other words, the construction of the Padma Bridge has created an opportunity to play a major role in the overall development of the southern region by connecting the economic golden future with other regions of the country.
You also know that the full name of the 11th longest bridge in the world is ‘Padma Multipurpose Bridge’. 918 hectares of land had to be acquired for the construction of the bridge. The construction of this huge bridge was done by China Major Bridge Engineering Construction Company Limited and the English S-shaped bridge was designed by the American multinational engineering firm AECOM. The length of the bridge is 6.15 km (20,2000 ft) and the width is 16.10 m (59.4 ft). After going through many ups and downs, the construction work finally started on December 7, 2014 and the work was completed in June 2022. Which will be open to all tomorrow. The bridge is being maintained by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and supervised by the Korean Expressway and the Bangladesh Army.
Implementing such a big project like Padma Bridge is really a challenge for a country like Bangladesh. Even then, with the participation of people from all over the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, this bridge has become one of the successes of Bangladesh. This success was not easily implemented. For the implementation of Padma Bridge, financial crisis, financial management, confidence, morale, etc., as well as various problems had to be solved. Through the construction and implementation of the Padma Bridge, it has been proved that Bangladesh can take up any challenge and has the capacity to face the challenge. At the same time, this bridge has been identified as an indicator of Sheikh Hasina’s strong morale, courage and ability. The construction of this multi-purpose bridge has set a precedent for the Bengalis to use their own strength, capabilities and geography as their own. The Padma Bridge will connect the south-western region of Bangladesh with other regions and will bridge the long distance between the districts of Bangladesh. As a result, there will be tremendous momentum in education, health, culture, development, employment and all other sectors. Today, it has become the national aspiration, symbol and consciousness of Bangladesh through the construction of a huge bridge over the country’s second longest river with its own funds.
Like her father, Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina, the successor of the indomitable fighting mind, believes that our only goal is the people’s resilience and determination and self-reliance in the face of the war of life. Then none of us can destroy. The Padma Bridge is a symbol of our national capacity. A shining example of an extraordinary dream of self-confidence created by the combination of our accumulated self-power. Dear reader, we are at the very end of the discussion. Finally, I will throw some questions to you and say goodbye like today. Dear readers! Just think, would any other government have been able to build or implement the Padma Bridge? Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave us independent territory, gave us freedom, Bangladesh Chhatra League gave us the right to speak in Bengali language, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Bangabandhu, is taking the country forward by developing it with relentless hard work.
In the case of 100% electrification in the country, Tareq Rahman said it is not possible. Sheikh Hasina has shown by implementing. Khaleda Zia said Padma Bridge is not possible by Awami League. The Awami League has implemented the Padma Bridge. Yet guys today you can criticize the government a lot. As a citizen of an independent country, you have freedom of speech.
Ask your conscience for whom this padma bridge? Who will travel through this bridge for ages? With whom are you opposing the Sheikh Hasina government? Why are you doing this? Whose interest are you doing? Asking questions.

Nayeem Islam Nibir is a young generation political leader and columnist in Bangladesh. He can be reached : [email protected]