Padma Bridge
Parjatan's Padma Bridge package tour launched
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) on Friday launched a special tour package, targeting the huge tourism potential of the recently inaugurated Padma Bridge.
The tour package was inaugurated by the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali in a function organized at the Tourism Building this afternoon.
In the opening ceremony, the minister said that the Padma Bridge has opened the door for the development of tourism in South Bengal. Tourists will now be able to visit Kuakata Beach, Sundarbans and other southern tourist centers in a very short time, he added.
"Various tourism facilities will be created on both sides of Padma Bridge through Bangladesh Tourism Corporation."
He also said that Padma Bridge is part of our history and it has taken us to a special place of pride and dignity in the world.
As a result of this bridge, the economy of the entire country including South Bengal will be speeded up and prosperous.
Read: Padma Bridge to transform Bagerhat’s tourism industry
The package tour titled "Dream Padma Bridge Tour" will be conducted regularly every Friday and Saturday. Through this trip, tourists can enjoy the beauty of Padma Bridge in the daylight, as well as in the evening and night.
Travelers can confirm their booking by contacting Bangladesh Tourism Corporation at 01941666444, 01300439617 and 02-41024218.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Md. Mokammel Hossain, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Chairman Md. Ali Kadar, Bangladesh Tourism Board Acting Chief Executive Officer Abu Tahir Md. Jaber were also present on the occasion.
Now triplets named after Padma Bridge in Dinajpur
After the triplets in two other districts, now triplets born in Dinajpur have been named after the much-awaited Padma Bridge.
A housewife named Sadina Begum, 32, gave birth to triplets through normal delivery at a community hospital in Birampur municipality under the district on Monday afternoon.
To commemorate the Padma Bridge, the largest communication infrastructure in the country, Jahidul Islam, father of the triplets named his daughters Shwapno, Padma and Setu.
The mother and the triplets are fine. They have been asked to take advice from a child expert in Dinajpur.
The couple also has an 11-year-old daughter.
Read: PM greets family for naming triplets after Padma Bridge
Jahidul Islam said they (Jahidul and Sadina) work at a readymade garment factory in Gazipur. They came in the native Tegra village on Eid vacation and delivery purpose.
"I named my daughters after Padma Bridge to show love to the much-hyped Padma Bridge and commemorate the event.
2 killed, 3 injured as truck overturns on Padma Bridge
Two people were killed and three others, including a child were injured after a truck overturned on the north viaduct of the Padma Bridge on Sunday night.The deceased were identified as Raju Khandakar, 45, and Kawser, 23, while the injured are Mukta Akter,25, wife of Raju Khandakar, their one-and-half year-old daughter Fatema Khandkar and Omar Farooq, 47.The accident occured around 10pm when the truck carrying empty gas cylinders from Shariatpur to Dhaka lost control and overturned between pillars 15 and 16 on the bridge, leaving two people dead on the spot and three others critically injured.The injured were sent to Dhaka Mitford Medical College Hospital in critical condition, said Alamgir Hossain, officer in charge of Padma North Police Station.
Read: Five killed in separate road accidents in 3 distsThe body has been kept at the Srinagar Health Complex, added the OC.Road accidents are common in Bangladesh.At least 2,329 people, including 291 women and 381 children, were killed and 4,361 others injured in 2,159 road accidents across the country in the first half of the current year, says a new report by the Road Safety Foundation.The road accidents took place on highways, national, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and June 30 across the country.
Padma Bridge a symbol of pride for developing world: Hun Sen
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh for successfully implementing the challenging Padma Bridge project with their own resources.He termed the bridge as a symbol of pride for the developing countries like Cambodia.Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen paid a courtesy call on the Cambodian Prime Minister in Phnom Penh on Friday.They expressed satisfaction at the existing bilateral relations and resolved to further strengthen it in the days ahead.Dr Momen extended an invitation to the Cambodian Prime Minister for a visit to Bangladesh next year on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.Momen sought the Cambodian leader’s support as the current Chair of ASEAN for expediting the repatriation of the stranded Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.He also requested Cambodian support in favour of Bangladesh candidacy for Sectoral Dialogue Partnership.The Cambodian leader conveyed his best regards and greetings to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina whom he described as a respected elder sister.Momen and Hun Sen exchanged views on the challenges emanating from the pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Both the leaders voiced concerns at the escalating food and energy insecurity affecting people, particularly in the developing world.
They stressed the importance of dialogue and peaceful settlement of issues for maintenance of peace and stability in the world.
Bangladesh-Cambodia bilateral talks were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Phnom Penh.
Foreign Minister Momen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn led the respective delegations.
The two Foreign Ministers reviewed the important aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The two Foreign Ministers reiterated their keenness for further strengthening the existing bilateral relations by adding further substances to it.The two sides discussed, inter alia, the areas of cooperation in trade, commerce, investment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food security, manpower, ICT, tourism, cultural exchange etc.Both the sides agreed to make efforts for enhancing the bilateral trade, which is currently much below the potentials, they observed.
They also emphasized on concluding the diverse MoUs under process at the earliest.
Rail tracks installation on Padma Bridge likely to start next week: Railway Minister
The work of installing rail tracks on Padma Bridge is expected to be started next week, said Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan on Friday.
Bangladesh Railway will hold a meeting with the bridge authority concerned Saturday, he told the journalists at Mawa Station during the inspection of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project.
“The decision in this regard will be made in that meeting.”
The minister also hoped that the train service from Dhaka to Bhanga through the bridge will be opened for traffic in June next year.
Nurul said the project has been divided into three parts for timely implementation. Of three parts, one part will be from Dhaka to Mawa while the second part from Mawa to Bhanga and the third part from Bhanga to Jashore, he said.
Progress of Mawa to Bhanga section is 80 percent while the progress of Dhaka to Mawa section is 60 percent and the progress of work on the Bhanga to Jashore section is 51 percent, he added.
“Overall work progress is 60 percent.”
“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,” he said adding that the new line from Khulna to Mongla, which will be operational by December this year, will be able to operate up to Mongla.
Regarding the vibration on the road bridge during track installation, the minister said a technical team will assess the issue. They will solve if any problems arise.
People make their journey easily due to opening of Padma Bridge: Obaidul
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday blamed the traffic gridlock on highways ahead of Eid-ul-Azha on the “faulty management and lack of coordination” but not on the condition of roads.
He was talking to reporters at the Secretariat as offices reopened on Tuesday after four days of Eid vacation.
Quader claimed that the road situation across the country was better this time.
“There was no traffic tailback on the road in this year. Though some reports of tailbacks were received, that happened due to faulty management and lack of coordination. The crisis was seen in Northern parts of the country, Quader said.
He said the pre-Eid opening of Padma Bridge made smooth the travel to the southern region.
He defended the ban on the movement of motorbikes on the highways saying it was necessary to prevent accidents.
Read: Padma Bridge starts by raking in over Tk 1 million an hour
The minister hoped that the Dhaka Metro Rail will be launched by end of December this year and the Dhaka Elevated Express Way by end of next year.
Padma Bridge: Tk 4.19 crore toll collection breaks 24-hr record
The government earned record Tk 4.19 crore in revenue through toll from the vehicles that crossed the Padma Bridge in 24 hours till 12 am Friday.
“A total of Tk 4,19,39,650 toll was collected from Thursday 12 am to Friday 12 am from the 31,723 vehicles that crossed the bridge during the period. It is the highest amount collected so far,” said Dr Mahmudur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA).
Also read: Bus damages Padma Bridge toll booth at Mawa end, one injured
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the bridge on June 25and it was opened to traffic the next morning.
Keeping the Eid-ul-Azha celebration ahead, the toll collection is exceeding the previous day’s record almost every day, said Dr Mahmudur Rahman.
“In the first 12 days more than 2.45 lakh vehicles crossed the bridge,” he said.
Also read: Record Tk 3.16 crore toll collected from Padma Bridge on day 6
Earlier on July 3, a record TK 3.16 crore tolls were collected from around 26,394 vehicles that crossed the bridge.
Bus damages Padma Bridge toll booth at Mawa end, one injured
A toll collector at the Mawa end of Padma Bridge sustained injuries after a commuter bus crashed into his booth on Saturday, forcing authorities to halt collection there.
The injured collector of toll booth number 2 has been identified as Md Ripon Hussian, 22.
Read: Record Tk 3.16 crore toll collected from Padma Bridge on day 6
Alamgir Hussain, officer-in-charge of Padma Uttar police station, said that the accident occurred around 11am when the Shariatpur-bound bus hit the booth after its driver lost control of the vehicle.
"The accident led to the damage of a computer at the booth. The injured collector has been hospitalised," he added.
However, toll collection at four other booths remained normal, he added.
Shariatpur poultry farmers' dreams now stretch beyond Padma Bridge
For the poultry farmers of Shariatpur, the Padma Bridge that opened on June 25 is a dream bigger than 6.15km.
They will no longer be divided and ruled by a course-shifting and often treacherous river.
Even though the district is not too far from Dhaka, the Padma River has been a major geographical divide for its poultry farmers.
The Padma Bride has opened up markets of Dhaka and other parts of the country to farmers and producers of Shariatpur, bound by Munshiganj on the north, Barishal on the south, Chandpur on the east, and Madaripur on the west.
As the bridge is expected to bring regional agriculture and small businesses to the mainstream supply chain, Shariatpur's traders of perishable goods and products such as vegetables, fish and poultry are hoping to benefit from the shorter travel time and better prices.
Shariatpur poultry farmer Hossain Ali will no longer have to worry if his truckloads catch up with the ferry and cross the Padma on time to reach Dhaka and other parts of the country. Halima Banu of the district will also get fair prices for her products.
"In Shariatpur, 32,400 metric tonnes of chicken meat and 11.5 crore eggs are annually produced in 1,478 poultry farms. Around 6,000 people are involved in the profession," according to the district livestock office.
Poultry traders of Shariatpur say they send truckloads of products to Dhaka and other major cities.
They load their chickens and eggs on trucks in the evening. The trucks often could not reach Dhaka the next morning due to tailbacks at the ferry terminal. This would affect the quality of chickens and eggs. So, the Shariatpur poultry traders were reluctant to send chickens and eggs to Dhaka.
The traders now hope that the new bridge would enable them to transport chicken and egg to the Dhaka market quickly, adding that fresh products would fetch them more profit.
Poultry farmer Abul Kalam Azad of Shariatpur's Naria said: "We faced difficulties in transporting poultry products to Dhaka. Many live poultry and Sonali chickens died at ferry ghat due to traffic congestion."
"The opening of the Padma Bridge will bring us closer to the Dhaka-based markets. Low-cost transport and lucrative rates in Dhaka markets mean more profit to us."
Read: Grass-route level poultry farmers seeks government’s interference to stop commercial sale of ready broilers, layers by hatchery owners
A brutal summer of fire and heat: Sitakundu, load shedding…
At least one can blame load shedding due to shortage of fuel etc. caused by the Russo-Ukrainian war but not the many others that ail us. The media is full of reports, gossip and accusations about the blazes, deaths and suffering and the bottom line remains the same. We are progressing but it’s full of juddering halts. Yet we have a great success to show off: Padma Bridge. Why did it happen when others are not working …?
The answer is probably simple. Everyone wanted it to work and so it did with all the hassles notwithstanding. No matter what the Opposition social media says, it’s a feat. It worked because everyone knew of its worth including its trophy value in every aspect. And everyone knew it was the project of the decade and the PM’s personal pride and brand value was involved. And so all the corruption, negative imaging, suspect levels of efficiency was there but Padma Shetu emerged. But other projects are not high profile and that is the problem. The system is not delivering because that is no one’s bread to pick up.
Also read: Probe body finds owners, monitoring authority responsible for Sitakunda depot fire
Is 2022-23 a foul calendar ?
The year has brought a rush of bad news at many levels. Globally, the Russo-Ukrainian war has dominated and has caused many difficulties including uncertain food supply and fuel prices in many countries. Bangladesh is not in difficulties alone. The difference is that, while the significant part is caused by global supply crisis, the role of local players, both rogue traders and the less than competent bureaucracy is threatening to become bigger than the war crisis. The administration simply was caught off guard without its crisis preparation plans. And now there is more than a fair bit of floundering which doesn’t look like it will end soon.
Lack of preparation for the massive floods is an indicator. The Government is admitting this including words coming from ministerial mouths. But given that we have a Ministry which is devoted to disaster management and planning, the fact about not being prepared is worth even more serious concern. In an era of climate change, the long heat wave followed by floods is only to be expected but why we weren’t ready is not a mystery but a confirmation that we are not up to the task.
Also read: Load shedding continues across the country
Load shedding and Sitakundu fireballs
We have often heard we had made it in the electricity sector but now a serious crisis has hit us which apart from making life uncomfortable for many is about to hit us economically in a big way. One of course hopes and wishes this is a false fear but the loopholes of the claims of the energy sector are peeping out rudely.
Our energy sector is based far too much on imported oil and diesel, that it’s producing more than demand but has weak performance as far distribution is concerned and so on. And that is why it needs several contingency plans to deal with an uncertain future which is part of our everyday life. Any signs that we understand this message are rather weak. And that is the problem.
Perhaps the answer lies in the investigation report of the Sitakundu blaze which took so many lives. The report says that the fire was caused largely by chemicals lying unattended in conditions which were dangerous. They were not supposed to be stored in the open exposing it to heat and other elements. So after a point it did what nature wanted it to do : explode. The report shares the blame between the owners who stored it but also among the supervisors who were supposed to ensure it didn’t lie there waiting to explode. No one did their job. So the explosion, so the deaths, so the devastation were all inevitable.
If everyone is combining together not to do their job, what chances do others have of a safe survival?