Padma Bridge
Padma Bridge wouldn't have been built in 2 decades with WB funding: Tazul
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam Monday said the work of the Padma Bridge would not have been completed in two decades had the World Bank (WB) provided funding for the country's largest infrastructure.
If the World Bank had financed the project, they would have had to follow their wishes, the minister said, adding that the global lending agency could impose its opinions on Bangladesh in the name of design changes and technical problems, leading to a waste of time.
The minister was speaking at a book launching ceremony as the chief guest at the Foreign Service Academy. The book authored by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen highlights Bangladesh's successes in the last 50 years and the potential to grow further.
"Bangladesher Ponchash: Safollo O Somvabona (50 Years of Bangladesh: Successes and Potentials)," published by Zhumzhumi Prokashon, contains 23 write-ups – 18 articles in Bangla and five in English.
Also Read: Inclusive sanitation not possible without public engagement: Tazul Islam
The book was dedicated to the author's elder brother and former finance minister late AMA Muhith.
Tazul said the "wonderful book" will inspire people from all generations and congratulated the author on writing it.
He said there are people who do not want to acknowledge the achievements of the country but the fact is that many countries are following Bangladesh noting its incredible growth.
At the event, Momen encouraged all to keep writing to let future generations know (about what is happening), noting that only this will remain though they will all have to leave this earth one day.
Bangladesh Public Service Commission member and Dhaka University Profesor Dr Delwar Hossain and AB Bank President and Managing Director Tarique Afzal also spoke at the programme.
PM Hasina's first trip to Tungipara by Padma Bridge, pays homage to Bangabandhu
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday arrived at her ancestral home at Tungipara in Gopalganj on her first visit by the Padma Bridge she inaugurated last month.
On arrival she, along with her family members, offered prayer at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Read: PM to visit Gopalganj through Padma Bridge on Monday
Accompanied by her son Sajeed Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed, the premier offered fateha and raised hands in prayer seeking eternal peace of departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of August 15, 1975 massacre.
Prayers were also offered seeking divine blessings for good health and long life of Sheikh Hasina and their family members as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country.
PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas. who accompanied the premier, confirmed this.
PM to visit Gopalganj through Padma Bridge on Monday
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Tungipara upazila in Gopalganj on Monday through the Padma Bridge for the first time.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed to UNB on Sunday that she will make the journey by road and will return by helicopter later.
According to the Gopalganj district information office, the PM will start for Tungipara at 7 am from Ganabhaban on Monday.
Also read: PM calls for best use of domestic resources for national development
After arrival she will place wreath at the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s mausoleum at 11 am and will offer offered Surah Fatiha and prayers.
She will join a milad mahfil arranged there and will meet the leaders of the district and upazila Awami League and its associate organisations at afternoon.
The PM will also visit Bangabandhu’s launch terminal in Tungipara and will depart for Dhaka at 2 pm.
The district administration has made all the necessary arrangements for the PM’s visit and the public entrance at Bangabandhu’s mausoleum was closed on Saturday evening.
Also read: PM calls Padma Bridge a milestone to change the fate of people: PM
For the next 24 hours from Sunday 5 pm to Monday 5pm opening of all kind of shops and vehicle movement will remain restricted at Patgati area of Tungipara, said the authority.
PM calls Padma Bridge a milestone to change the fate of people: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday reiterated that the newly opened Padma Bridge will immensely contribute towards improving the lives and livelihood of the people of the country.
“It is a huge milestone to change the fate of the people of our Bangladesh,” she said while chairing the Cabinet meeting through a virtual platform from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Other cabinet members were connected from the Conference Room of the Cabinet Division.
Read:Cost very reasonable, no scope for corruption: PM on Padma Bridge project
The premier once again slammed some local economists and dignitaries who stated that the bridge project won’t be viable and the cost can't be recovered. “What has happened now? The bridge will definitely change the lives and livelihood of the people," she said.
She said like the Bangabandhu Bridge the Padma multi-purpose bridge will be a game changer in the country's development and prosperity.
Record Tk 3.16 crore toll collected from Padma Bridge on day 6
The government earned record Tk 3.16 crore in revenue through toll from the vehicles that crossed the Padma Bridge on Friday, the 6th day after opening of the bridge to traffic.
“TK 3.16 crore was collected from 6 am to 12 am on Friday which is the highest amount earned so far, “Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA) Superintending Engineer Abul Hossain told UNB.
Also read: BRTA increases bus fare on every route via Padma Bridge
Around 26,394 vehicles crossed the bridge during this period, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the bridge on June 25and it was opened to traffic the next morning.
Also read: Tk 1.97 crore toll collected from Padma Bridge on day 2
Padma Bridge symbol of new Bangladesh: FM tells his Portuguese counterpart
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the just-inaugurated multi-billion dollar Padma Bridge, built with the country’s own resources, is a symbol of new Bangladesh that is capable of achieving success braving all challenges.
He apprised his Portuguese counterpart Dr. Joao Gomes Cravinho of Bangladesh’s remarkable progress in socio-economic development, particularly in women empowerment, health and education as well as fast economic growth under the leadership Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Portuguese Foreign Minister expressed his government’s desire to strengthen the relation with Bangladesh.
READ: FM to attend UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon
He took note of the suggestions and assured to work on them while commending the Bangladeshi migrant community residing in Portugal for their integration in the Portuguese society and contribution to Portuguese economy.
The two sides also agreed on working together to face the challenges relating to climate changes like rehabilitation of “climate refugees” at bilateral and multilateral levels.
Foreign Minister Momen had a bilateral meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Dr. Joao Gomes Cravinho in Lisbon on Friday on the sideline of the ongoing 2nd UN Ocean Conference 2022 jointly hosted by Portugal and Kenya.
This was the first bilateral meeting between the two countries at the level of Foreign Ministers.
BRTA increases bus fare on every route via Padma Bridge
The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has issued a new chart fixing Bus fares for all the routes stretching from Dhaka to the southern districts.
According to the chart, the distance between Dhaka and Barishal via Mawa-Bhanga-Madaripur route is 156km. The new fare for a 40-seat bus is Tk 454, while for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 356 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Gopalganj via Mawa-Bhanga route is 145.53km. The fare for a 40-seat bus is now Tk 423 and for a 51-seat bus it is now Tk 332 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Khulna via Gopalganj is 207km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 575 and for a 51-seat bus it is Tk 456 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Shariatpur via the Padma Bridge is 73km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 257 and for a 51-seat bus it is Tk 211 per person. There is another route to Shariatpur via the 2nd Buriganga Bridge-Mawa-Jajira route. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is almost the same as the first route.
Read: Mawa-Bhanga expressway witnesses huge traffic snarl on first day of toll collection
The distance between Dhaka and Pirojpur via Mawa-Bhanga-Barishal is 206km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 580 and for a 51-seat bus it is Tk 455 per person. There is another route to Pirojpur via Mawa-Bhanga-Gopalganj-Bagerhat. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 619 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 486 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Patuakhali via Bhanga-Barishal route is 192km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 561 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 440 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Madaripur via the Mawa-Bhanga route is 111km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 344 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 270 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Satkhira via Mawa-Bhanga-Gopalganj-Khulna is 257km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 689 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 541 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Faridpur via the Mawa-Bhanga route is 102km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 323 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 253 per person.
The distance between Dhaka and Kuakata via the Mawa-Bhanga-Madaripur-Barishal-Patuakhali route is 276km. The fare for a 40-seat bus in this route is Tk 767 and for a 51-seat bus the fare is Tk 601 per person, according to the new chart.
Padma Bridge: Hawkers at Daulatdia Ghat in the same boat as ferry services
The hawkers who ply their trade on the Daulatdia-Paturia ferry route are newly worried about running out of business at Daulatdia ferry ghat now that the Padma Bridge opened for traffic on June 25.
The government had provided a clarification prior to the opening that ferry services, at least in terms of availability and legal permits or schedules, could continue as before. But the challenge was always going to be competing with the $3.6 billion bridge as a preferred mode to cross the river.
When it comes to public demand, they simply cannot compete with the bridge in the long run. And it now looks like their demise may come even sooner than expected. Alongside them, hundreds of hawkers who used to depend on the heavy footfall of launch passengers are faced with the same fate.
During a recent visit to the Daulatdia Ghat, UNB’s Rajbari correspondent learned that the shops situated along both sides of the ferry ghat were already closing. Some hawkers had covered their stalls in polythene.
The lack of ferry/launch passengers has also meant the usual bustle of the ghat is gone, and launch staff are no longer engaged in aggressive tactics to pull customers away from competitors.
Besides, passengers have to pay Tk 5 as entry fee to enter the launch ghat. A few passengers were seen waiting at the launch ghat after purchasing their tickets.
Alamin Bapari, a collector of entry fees at Daulatdia ferry ghat, said they used to collect fees from 6 am to 9 pm each day and some 4000/5000 people on average would go through the ghat each day, even just prior to the inauguration of Padma Bridge.
That number has already dropped to a mere 1200-1500, which is way under even half the number of passengers they served before.
Currently, passenger buses are moving over the Padma Bridge from Faridpur and people are using the bus to cross the bridge - a long-cherished dream for many. This is the main reason behind low turnout of passengers, said Alamin.
Also read: Padma Bridge to bring good luck for the Sundarbans tourism
Raushan hails Padma Bridge as a symbol of self-respect
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad on Wednesday hailed the Padma Bridge as a “symbol of our self-respect” and not just an infrastructure.
The Jatiya Party leader said this while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget for 2022-23 in the House.
"There was a lot of criticism centering it. The dream has finally come true. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the prime minister,” she said on her first appearance in the House in about a year.
Read:PM: Conspiracy delayed construction of Padma Bridge by 2 years
Raushan returned home from Thailand on Monday after seven months of treatment.
She thanked Hasina for her brave decision to build the bridge overcoming all hurdles.
"There was a lot of criticism centering it. The dream has finally come true. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the prime minister,” she said.
Raushan urged the government to take long-term steps to find a permanent solution to the country’s flood problem.
PM: Conspiracy delayed construction of Padma Bridge by 2 years
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the construction of the Padma Bridge was delayed by two years due to conspiracy by a vested interest group.
The prime minister inaugurated the much-cherished bridge, the longest in the country, on June 25. Bangladesh self-financed the mega project after it was shunned by the World Bank on unproved allegation of corruption.
"The 42 pillars of the Padma Bridge are the reflection of a courageous Bangladesh," she told the Parliament while responding to a tabled question from Marina Jahan, an Awami League lawmaker from Sirajganj.
Read: Set up commission to identify plotters against Padma Bridge project, HC tells govt
PM Hasina said: "Our passion, our creativity, our courage, our tolerance and our commitment are involved with this Padma Bridge. We had been stubborn in building the bridge."
"At last we saw the light emerging through the darkness. Red, blue, green and golden lights are shining over the Padma,” she said.
Hasina, also leader of the House said, the conspiracy started when the tender process for hiring a contractor for the construction of the Padma Bridge got underway.
She said the World Bank, ADB, JICA and IDB had suspended loan agreements alleging corruption in the process of recruiting consulting firms to oversee the construction of various packages of the project.
“In 2017, when allegations of a corruption conspiracy were proved false in a court in Toronto, Canada, the World Bank announced a return to the project," she said.
But, she said, in the interest of the country and the people, we took the bold decision to implement the Padma Bridge with the government's own funding instead of taking the World Bank loan.