Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that the Padma Bridge will come as divine blessings for the people of the southern region as they will get quick assistance during natural disasters after its opening next week.

“I think, the inauguration of Padma Bridge on June 25 will come as a blessing from Allah as we will be able to establish rapid communication with the southern region and promptly help the people in case of floods,” she said.

The premier was addressing a reception accorded to the 2021 SAFF Champion Bangladesh Under-19 Women National Football Team at her office in the city.

Noting that flood has affected the northeastern region massively this time, she said such deluge will affect the southern region of the country too.

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Hasina said she opened Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna River just before the 1998 countrywide long-lasting flood and this helped maintain communication with the northern part of the country for uninterrupted transportation of goods and other essentials.

She said the flood also had affected the southern region at that time and the people of this area got help from the northern districts.

“We had been able to face that flood successfully…. Since we had opened the Bangabandhu Bridge, it helped us face the flood in many ways at that time,” she added.

The PM said crossing the river like Padma River becomes dangerous due to strong current during such floods and disrupts the communication.

She recalled that she got stranded in Tungipara during the 1988 floods. “I could have come to Dhaka at that time had a bridge been there over the Padma River,” she added.

“So, when the Padma Bridge is opened, we’ll get the scope to continue relief operations, providing other assistance and medicines in the flood-hit areas,” she said.

Mentioning that a devastating flood hits Bangladesh after every 10-12 years, the premier said she earlier warned all government authorities that a different type of flood might affect the country this year and asked them to take preparation accordingly.

“We’ve the preparation (for facing the flood). We’re taking proper measures to ease the sufferings of the flood-hit people,” she said.

Citing that this time the flood has affected the country in a massive way, Hasina said the government has taken all measures including providing reliefs and assistance to the flood-hit people by the Army, Navy and Air Force to all government agencies concerned.

Besides,the leaders and activists of Awami League (AL), Chattra league, Jubo League and Swecchasebak League are also helping the flood-hit people in their respective localities, said Hasina, also the AL president.

Mentioning that the flood water has started receding in different places particularly in Sunamganj on Sunday, she said the government has also taken the preparation to ease public sufferings during the post-flood situation.

She said when the water recedes other regions downstream will be flooded naturally. “So, our Mymensingh and Ranpur divisions are also likely to be flooded. So, we’re taking precautionary measures and proper preparation in this regard,” said the prime minister.

When the flood water recedes from the north eastern part, the central region might be flooded until the Bengali month of Shraban and then the southern region from Shraban to Bhadra. It is rule of nature, she said.

“In Bangladesh, we will have to move coping up with its natural environment. So, we’ll continue the activities to ensure normal life alongside facing the natural disasters,” she said adding that Bangladesh successfully hosted the Mini World Cup (The 1998 ICC Champions Trophy) during the 1998 flood.

Noting that her government introduced the Bangabandhu Gold Cup and Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup at the primary school level, she emphasized on arrangement of inter-college and inter-university competitions to pick players for the national teams.

“I think inter-school and inter-college competitions should be started soon. We’ll do everything what is necessary for this,” she said.

Hasina said her government is constructing a mini-stadium in every upazila for development of all types of sports. The construction works of mini-stadiums continue in 186 upazilas, she said.

She directed the sports ministry to come up with a fresh project to construct the mini-stadiums in other upazilas. “I don’t want the delay (in construction of the mini-stadiums). I want the mini-stadiums ready in 493 Upazilas”, she said.

Hasina said it is essential to put more emphasis on the country’s rural sports.

The PM urged the industrialists and businesspeople to come forward in helping the players and thus promote sports.

If the industries and business organisations hire the players in their ventures, they would be able to concentrate more on sports without worrying about their livelihoods, she said.

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“It is not right that you would just do business, set up industries and make money. You will have to do something for the country,” said the prime minister.

In the function, the financial honorariums were provided to a total of 88 sportspersons, including 33 members of the team.

The 55 other sportspersons include 33 from 'Mujib Borsho FIFA International Football Series 2020 and 22 from Bangabandhu 4-Nation Physically Challenged Cricket Tournament 2022.

SAFF-2021 Champion Women U-19 National Football Team’s Captain Maria Manda, player Monika Chakma and chief trainer Golam Rabbani Choto, Bangladesh Physically Challenged Cricket Team Captain Faisal Khan and Bangladesh National Football Team Captain Jamal Bhuyan received cheque of financial honorariums from the prime minister.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel and Bangladesh Football Federation President Kazi Salahuddin also spoke at the function.