Padma Bridge
Padma Bridge Rail Project: Trial run of train begins
Test run of a train (an engine and an open boggy) has begun on the new railway line from the district under the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
The train engine and boggy departed the Bhanga station at 10:30 am and traveled 45 km to reach Mawa, said Md. Shahjahan, station master of Bhanga.
Read: Despite loss, Bangladesh Railway wants to repair DEMU trains
This is the first test run after the modern railway line was laid on this route. The train is built in a special shape known as "Gang-Car".
Sundarbans to have 4 more eco-tourism centres
Tourist spots in the country’s southern districts, including the Sundarbans and the historic Shat Gombuj Mosque, are seeing sizeable flow of tourists as travelling has become easy after Padma Bridge opened.
The Forest Department is going to open four more eco-tourism centres in the Sundarbans to manage the growing number of tourists.
Muhammad Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer of Sundarbans East Zone, said the mangrove forest is seeing a sharp rise in the number of tourists after the inauguration of Padma Bridge.
Read: Sundarbans reopens to tourists, fishermen after 3 months
Four new eco-tourism centres are being set up in Alibanda, Andharmanik, Shekhertek and Kalabagi to handle the growing tourist flow.
There are already seven eco-tourism centres at Karamjal, Herbaria, Kalagachia, Katka, Kochikhali, Dubla and Heron Point for tourists visiting the Sundarbans.
Tourists can visit the three centres in Karamjal, Herbaria and Kalagachia with a fixed entry fee and they have to return within the day.
Read “RAB freed Sundarbans from robbers and inspired a quality film”
Upto 30 launch services from Sadarghat forced to fold post-Padma Bridge
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday told Parliament that the country’s southern region-bound passengers on almost all waterways declined significantly due to the advent of Padma Bridge.
“On an average 85-90 launches were plying from Dhaka River Port to the southern region every day (before the bridge opened). But now on average 60-65 launches are plying daily on those routes from Sadarghat in Dhaka,” he said.
The state minister said this in reply to a scripted question from Awami League lawmaker Sayeda Rubina Akter.
Also read: Padma Bridge brings more visitors to tourist destinations in Bagerhat
The construction of the dream bridge has enabled the south-bound passengers to reach their respective destinations by road quickly.
“However, the number of passengers has decreased significantly in almost all waterways, except a few, as the passenger movement on the waterways takes more time,” he said.
Khalid Mahmud also said the movement of 87 launches and 155 speed boats on the Shimulia-Banglabazar and Shimulia-Mazhikandi routes had stopped since the inauguration of Padma Bridge.
However, there is a possibility to increase the waterway passengers slightly within the next 6 months, he said.
The feasibility study continues to create new river routes for passenger and cargo transportation at affordable prices, he added.
The state minister said since the launch of the 'dream' Padma Bridge, even the number of passengers on 'the Rocket', a famed steamer of BIWTC on the Dhaka-Morrelganj-Dhaka Inland Water Route, has come down significantly, as potential passengers can now simply do the journey by road, saving both time and money.
Similarly, a ferry service that used to run between Mawa and Majhirkandi has also been forced to stop due to drastically reduced demand, and movement of vessels on the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry route has declined significantly.
Also read: Shariatpur poultry farmers' dreams now stretch beyond Padma Bridge
This is all having a negative effect on BIWTC revenues, he did add. Not that it was a cause for complaint.
Installation of rail tracks on Padma Bridge begins
Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Saturday inaugurated the work of installing rail tracks at the Jajira end of the Padma Bridge.
“The rail tracks installation work will be completed within four months,” said the minister.
Sujan added that the financial progress of the project is 68 percent and physical progress 70 percent.
“Sixty-six percent work of Dhaka to Mawa has been completed. The progress of work from Mawa to Bhanga is 85 percent and from Bhanga to Jeshore 52 percent,” added Sujan.
Also read: Mongla Port witnesses first RMG export thanks to Padma Bridge
At an event on July 16 the minister said if the railway line is constructed from Dhaka to Bhanga, it will be possible to run trains from Dhaka to Khulna, Jashore, Darshana, Benapole through Faridpur and Rajbari.
The new line from Khulna to Mongla, which will be operational by December this year, will be able to operate up to Mongla, he added.
Also read: Padma Bridge: Know Its Amazing Facts, Engineering Wonders
Mongla Port witnesses first RMG export thanks to Padma Bridge
A foreign ship named Maersk Nesna left the Mongla Port in Bagerhat for Poland with Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) products for the first time after the launching of the Padma Bridge.
Maersk Nesna, a Panama-flagged ship, left the port around 11:30am on Thursday with 17 containers of 27 garment factories.
This is the first export shipment of readymade garments to any country from the Mongla Port.
Earlier, businesses used to export RMG products throughChattogram Port and air cargo. As communication distance from the capital Dhaka to Mongla Port has reduced after the opening of the Padma Bridge, traders now are choosing Mongla Port as an option for export.
Also read: Customs seizes two more large consignments of liquors from Chattogram port
According to Mongla Port Authority, the present distance from Mongla Port to Dhaka is 170 kilometres and Chattogram Port to Dhaka is 260 kilometres. Businesses are showing their interest to use Mongla Port for its short distance from Dhaka and easy and safe cargo handling.
Mongla Port will save time and money for the exporters, claimed the port authority.
In a statement on Thursday, the port authority said RMG products from 27 garment factories including Fakir Apparels, Windy Limited, KC Lingerie Limited, Artistic Design Limited, Knit Concern Limited, Knit Composite Limited, and Sharmin Apparels have been sent to Poland from No.8 jetty of the port.
The shipment included various RMG products including baby clothes, Jersey, Cardigan, T-shirt, and Trousers.
Calling it memorable day, Mongla Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa hoped that export of RMG items through Mongla Port will increased in the future.
Also read: BGMEA seeks support of IMF to realize strategic vision of RMG industry
Bagerhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sheikh Liakat Hossain Liton said economic activities will increase through the Mongla Port thanks to the Padma Bridge.
‘Sheikh Hasina Tantpalli’ to create job for people of south-western region: Minister
The Ministry of Textiles and Jute is setting up ‘Sheikh Hasina Tant palli’ in Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur district at the Jajira end of the Padma Bridge to create opportunities for self-employment in the south-western region.
Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi said this while visiting the project on 120 acres of land in the upazila on Thursday.
Under this project, weavers will be provided with all kinds of facilities including residential buildings, handloom shed, dormitories, rest house, cyber cafes and power substations.
Also read: Production in BJMC’s 2 leased out jute mills begins
There are plans to set up a ‘Tant Haat’ two days a week at Tantpalli where all kinds of raw materials including yarn will be sold and displayed.
“Everything from weaving cloth to making and selling garments will be arranged here,” said the minister.
Also read: Multiple Earning Streams: Finding Additional Online Income Source Beside a Job
The minister also hoped that this project will revive the tradition of handloom industry.
He also visited the construction work of ‘Sheikh Hasina Textile Engineering College’ under Textiles Department in the upazila.
FM’s book on Padma Bridge unveiled
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury unveiled the cover of the book titled “Amader Aurthey Amader Padma Setu” (Our Padma Bridge by Our Own Funds) in the capital on Tuesday.
The book edited by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was unveiled at a programme organised by “Chandaboti Academy” at auditorium of Foreign Service Academy.
Foreign Minister Momen, Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Minister Anisul Huq, State Minister for Foreign Minister Md Shahriar Alam and Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam were present at the ceremony.
Read: MoFA, Technical and Madrasa Education Division vow to modernize technical and madrasa education
Speakers at the programme said the Padma Bridge is the symbol of the capability of the country as the bridge was implemented under determination of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
They also said the book will be a document in the history of Bangladesh’s development as several aspects of the implementation of the bridge was scripted in the book.
Foreign Minister Momen dedicated the book to the premier.
The 400-page book contains 67 articles written by the prominent writers on various aspects of the recently inaugurated Padma Bride which is the symbol of pride and self-confidence of the Bangladeshi nationals.
20 people injured as bus overturns near Padma Bridge in Munshiganj
Twenty people were injured as a bus overturned near North Police Station of Padma Bridge at Mawa point in Munshiganj district on Tuesday.
The identities of the injured people could not be known immediately.
Read: Three held over SUST student Bulbul's murder
The bus of ‘Tungipara Paribahan’ overturned around 1:30 pm after its driver lost control over steering, leaving 20 people injured, said Mohammad Zia, Traffic Inspector of Mawa Police camp.
Of the injured, some were taken to a local hospital where some others were given first aid.
Only ‘Swapno’ remains alive of Dinajpur triplets named after Padma Bridge
Of the triplets named after the country's largest communication structure Padma Bridge in DInajpur, ‘Padma’, and ‘Setu’, died leaving their sister ‘Swapno’ alone.
After six days of birth, on Saturday evening Padma died of sickness and Setu followed the same fate the next night.
On June 18, the triplet sisters were born to their parents Sadina Begum and Jahidul Islam from Krishtabati village in Birampur upazila of Dinajpur
“After their birth doctors said all three of them were in good health and expert physicians conducted medical tests on them, “said devastated Jahidul to UNB.
The triplets were born through normal delivery at a community hospital in Birampur municipality.
Read: Now triplets named after Padma Bridge in Dinajpur
After the triplets in two other districts, Jahidul and Sadina, two garment factory workers from Gazipur named their daughters after the bridge to show love to the much-hyped Padma Bridge and commemorate the event.
The couple also has an 11-year-old daughter.
Torn by the deaths of two children within 24 hours, they are now struggling to keep alive Swapno, last of the triplet sisters.
Padma Bridge: Know Its Amazing Facts, Engineering Wonders
Bangladesh undertook the Padma Bridge construction project a decade ago with the dream of connecting the people of Southern Bangladesh with the capital Dhaka to speed up the economy. And the dream comes true as the bridge on mighty river Padma was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25, 2022, expecting to fulfill the dreams of many people in Bangladesh. However, building such a big bridge with self-finance was not easy. But Bangladesh has surprised the whole world. With the inauguration of the Padma multipurpose bridge, one-third of Bangladesh has become connected to Dhaka by road.
From the length of the Bridge to the number of pillars, many facts make the bridge comparable to a wonder. Let’s get to know some facts about Padma Bridge.
Amazing Facts About Padma Bridge
Build On a Continuous Stream of Water
According to statistics, 1.40 lakh cubic meters of water can go to the sea every second through the Padma. The amount of water that flows into the sea through the Padma is the second highest in the world after the Amazon River. This continuous stream of water will pass under the Padma Bridge. So the system should be kept in such a way that the water can flow under the bridge without any interruption and go to the Bay of Bengal.
Read: Padma Bridge to transform Bagerhat’s tourism industry
If the water gets trapped in any way, it will flood upstream (west-north side of the river), and at the same time, this water will put a lot of pressure on the bridge. As a result, bridge failure can occur. Padma Bridge has been built keeping these things in mind.
Long Piles
The height of Padma bridge piles is 120-128 meters. That is, each pile is equal to a 40-story building. This is because, during the monsoon, when there is excess flow, the Padma River may scour 65 meters of soil, that means 65 meters of soil is washed away from the bottom of the river. No river in the world has the capacity to wash away so much soil.
Hence, the piles of the Padma Bridge are so large to resist the sediment transport of the Padma during monsoons. In the history of bridge construction, the foundation of a bridge has never been built at such a depth anywhere in the world.
Read Padma Bridge symbol of new Bangladesh: FM tells his Portuguese counterpart
Germany Made Special Crane and Hammer
Installing 120-128-meter-high piles is not a piece of cake. In the world, there is no such high pile placement machine. So special cranes and hammers were made from Germany only for the Padma Bridge.
Can Survive Heavy Earthquake
Another record of Padma Bridge is its ability to withstand earthquakes. The Padma Bridge can withstand an earthquake of 9 on the Richter scale without any complications.
Heavy Bearing
Each bearing between the span and pier of Padma Bridge has a weight of about 10,500 metric tons. No other bridge in the world has ever used such heavy bearings. The technology used here is base isolation, in which the foundation will move during an earthquake, but the bridge above will not move.
Read Shariatpur poultry farmers' dreams now stretch beyond Padma Bridge
There will be a system of movement. This is called a pendulum bearing, which will help to slide the span and help to back again in place. It is used in many places in the world. However, it has never been used in such a large project. Due to this technology, the number of piles and size of pile caps is reduced to some extent.
Vertical Bored Concrete Pile
The piles below the two piers are slightly different, which are vertical bored concrete piles that are up to 80 meters deep. It means that these piles are not inclined but straight underwater. These are concrete piles, like the common columns of our houses. These piles are cast into the water, which means pouring concrete into the water. But the concrete does not float and becomes a column.
River Training
Another very important function of the Padma Bridge was river training, which was very challenging. There are very few companies in the world that can do this job. Sinohydro, the Chinese state-owned company, got this tender in July 2014.
Read Padma Bridge: Tk 4.19 crore toll collection breaks 24-hr record
Alongside Padma bridge construction, the River dredging was started. Dredging is the removal of silt from the bottom so that there is less obstruction in the flow of water. So that more amount (higher volume of water) can go. It was expected that the pressure of water on the edge would be reduced a little. Dredging 10 million cubic meters at Mawa end. And 40 million cubic meters of dredging at the Jazira end.
Another part of river training was placing stones, concrete blocks, and geo bags on the banks of the river. 8.5 lakh tons of stone were used at the Mawa end, and 30 lakh tons of stone were thrown at the Jazira end. 3,907,500 geo bags weighing 800 kg and 17,267,500 geo bags weighing 125 kg were dropped. A total of cement concrete blocks was 13,301,248.
Due to the Padma Bridge, a 14 km area has come under river training. It is rare to find such a large area taken control for river training.
Read Padma Bridge a symbol of pride for developing world: Hun Sen
Exclusive Engineering Technologies Applied in Padma Bridge Rail Line
The train will pass through the steel structure. The rail line is dual gauge. Therefore, the broad gauge and meter gauge, both types of trains, can cross the Padma Bridge. There will be emergency arrangements so that people can be alighted from the train and taken to a safe place in case of any kind of trouble on the train.
Again, this is not an ordinary railway line. It has provision for double-decker containers to carry goods. Railways in Bangladesh usually take one container. But it is being done here so that in future trains can go with one container on top of another.
It is the first ballastless rail track and is made with RCC instead of stone. The rail track is placed on a truss structure (the V-shaped steel structure).
Read Parjatan's Padma Bridge package tour launched
Final Words
Padma Bridge is a symbol of political status, self-reliance, courage, determination, ability, and confidence. The construction of this Padma bridge is an ‘engineering wonder' in front of the whole world, an example of overcoming engineering challenges.