Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday received some Tk 315 crore as the 7th and the 8th installments of loan repayment, which was taken for the construction of Padma Bridge.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader handed over a cheque of Tk 314,64,86,963 to the prime minister as the 7th and 8th installments of loan for Padma Bridge at Ganabhaban.

PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder and PM's Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan, among others, were present at the time.

With the 7th and 8th installments, the Bridges Division has so far repaid a total of some Tk 1263 crore (exactly Tk 1262,66,06,548) to the Finance Division as the first eight installments.

On April 5, the Bridges Division began the repayment of the loan with Tk 316,90,97,050 as the first and second installments from the revenue it earned as toll collection from the bridge.

Some Tk 1,654 crore (1653,71,65,550) was collected as toll from the Padma Bridge from June 25 in 2022 to June 26, 2024 after the inception of its operation.

The Padma Bridge was constructed with own finance at a cost of over Tk 32,605.52 crore.

Bangladesh Bridges Authority has taken almost the entire construction fund as loan from the Finance Division at a low interest rate. The loan will be repaid in 140 installments (4 installments) in 35 years as per the loan repayment schedule. 

On June 25, 2022, the prime minister opened the country's largest bridge, 6.15-km Padma Bridge  over the mighty Padma river.