Ferries on Shimulia-Banglabazar route are going to stay for now even after the opening of the Padma Bridge next week, according to relevant officials. The widely used ferry terminal named Mawa ghat(Shimulia-Banglabazar route) is likely to remain operational even after the country’s longest ever (6.15 km) bridge opens to vehicular traffic on June 26, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina  is scheduled to declare it open at a grand ceremony on June 25. At present, four ferries (Kunjalata, Kadam, Begum Rokeya, Begum Sufia Kamal) transport a total of 62,500 people and 2,900 vehicles per day through the Shimulia-Banglabazar route, while 21 ferries transport around 10,000 vehicles per day via Paturia-Daulatdia route. Currently, only light passenger vehicles are transported via the Shimulia-Banglabazar route while goods-laden heavy vehicles are transported via the Paturia-Daulatdia route. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said recently that the ferry terminal at Shimulia will remain open even after the inauguration of Padma Bridge. Read: Padma Bridge an eye opener to foreign investors: Saudi envoy At least12 more ferries will be added to the Shimulia-Banglabazar route, he said, signaling that ferries will be kept operational even after the opening of the Padma Bridge.  He also hoped that demand for ferries will increase at the Shimulia Ghat in the coming days. As the toll rate for using the Padma Bridge is almost 50 per cent more than the ferry fares, it is likely that a lot of commuters will keep using the ferries to reduce their transport costs. The state minister also mentioned that a tourist-centric eco zone will be set up at Shimulia to generate employment. “No one from the areas adjacent to the Padma Bridge will remain unemployed,” said Khalid. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation ( BIWTC) informed UNB that they have a big plan centering the Shimulia ghat and its adjacent areas. One of them is to keep ferries operational.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the security forces to be on alert saying that a quarter is targeting to thwart the much-awaited inauguration of Padma Bridge on June 25. “We’ve completed the work (Padma Bridge construction) throwing a big challenge. Those who opposed it have a target. We’ve got some information as well (in this regard). They will make such an incident to happen so that we can’t hold the inaugural ceremony on June 25,” she said. The premier was addressing a programme marking the 36th founding anniversary of the Special Security Force (SSF) at her office here. She said when the World Bank stopped the funding to the Padma Bridge due to instigation from Dr Muhammad Yunus and his friend Hillary Clinton, her government announced that it would construct the bridge with own funding. “At that time, many people thought that we could not do it. But we’ve done it,” said Hasina. She asked the security forces particularly the law enforcement agencies to be careful and ensure security to import structures (KPI ones) of the country ahead of the opening of the country’s largest multipurpose road-rail bridge. Read: Plant at least three trees each during monsoon, PM urges citizens She said the fire incidents have already been seen on train, launch and ferry in recent times. Suspecting foul play in the recent fire at BM Container Depot  she wondered how the blaze could occur in several sites and not at a single place. Noting that she saw a video footage of the train fire on Saturday, she said the fire started from the wheel. “How could it be possible?  So, all these things are mysterious,” she said. “So, I would like to ask all to remain alert, pay attention to our important establishments and ensure security to these,” said the PM. Sheikh Hasina asked the SSF members to always maintain the firmness of character, discipline, honesty and other qualities alongside acquiring professional skills. She also urged them to pay attention so that she would not be isolated from the people. “We do politics for the people…. You’ve to ensure that we are not isolated from the people,” she added. Hasina said her government has developed the country as ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and sent a satellite (Bangabandhu satellite) into space and introduced different digital systems. The technology has opened the new door for socio-economic development, but it also has created scope for those who are engaged in terrorist activities to carry out their activities using the latest technology. Read: Population Census gives right picture of country: Dipu  “The technology creates scopes for our socio-economic development, but the pattern of destructive activities changes due to the technology,” she said adding that keeping it in mind, her government has strengthened the SSF with the use of the latest technology so it could keep pace with the world.   Pointing to the chiefs of the three armed forces, police and other forces who were present at the function, Hasina asked them to continue to remain alert always against terrorism and militancy as some quarters are out to sabotages when the country get progress. “We’ll have to remain conscious always. Keep it in mind whenever we go forward, some quarters try to make different types of incidents to happen. It is unfortunate for us,” she said. In an oblique reference to the Gulshan Holey Artisan attack in 2016, the PM said every force -- from intelligences to army, navy, air forces, police, Rab, Ansar and VDB, and BGB-- has played an important role since the incident and thus the government has been able to curb the militancy and terrorism. “We’ll have to contain terrorism and militancy. Our every force is still alert and conscious in this regard,” she added. SSF Director General Major General Md. Majibur Rahman, on behalf of all members of his force, presented a memento to the prime minister on the occasion of the 36th founding anniversary of the elite force.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Padma Bridge on June 25, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said. Read: PM Hasina: I had to redesign the Padma Bridge to make it longer "The bridge will be named after the river Padma only and not after anyone in the Bangabandhu family. Hasina will inaugurate the bridge at 10am on June 25," he told reporters after a meeting with the PM at Ganobhaban on Tuesday. Bridges Authority has, meanwhile, said that the revised cost of the ambitious Padma Bridge project is Tk 30,193.39 crore. Read: Padma Bridge not AL’s ancestral property: BNP According to the progress report of the project received last April, work on the bridge was 92% complete. At the time, the work of river management was 90.50% done. In addition, the carpeting work of the main bridge was 66% complete.