BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the government is indulging in the celebration of the Padma Bridge inauguration by keeping the lakhs of flood victims in the country’s northeastern region hungry. “Our people are starving and not getting treatment in the flood-affected areas, but they (govt) are occupied with Padma Bridge inauguration festival,” he said. The BNP leader made the remarks while distributing relief materials on the premises of Khazar Mokam High School in Sylhet’s Jaintiapur Upazila among the flood-affected people. Also read: BNP turns down invitation to join Padma Bridge opening programme Fakhrul claimed that the government allocated only Tk 60 lakh for 30 lakh flood victims in the Sylhet region while hundreds of crores of taka are being spent on the inauguration programme of the Padma Bridge. He also said the government is arranging amusement programmes for the inauguration on Saturday while people are dying amid lack of food and relief materials in the flood-hit areas “People are being washed away by the floods, not getting food and treatment. But the government has no attention to it. Around Tk 9 crores have been spent on making 90 toilets at Mawa for the opening programme of the bridge. If the money was given to the flood victims of Sylhet then people would not suffer so much,” the BNP leader observed. Fakhrul together with BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku reached Sylhet from Dhaka by road at noon to witness the flood situation and distribute relief materials among the affected people. Also read: Flood victims left in the lurch: Fakhrul They also offered ziarat at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) before visiting the flood-hit areas. Stating that people in Sylhet and Sunamganj are crying for relief materials to survive, the BNP leader said the government has failed to stand by the flood-hit people. “While lakhs of people are crying out for relief, the Prime Minister has completed her duty by providing relief to a few only.” Fakhrul recalled that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia during her government in 2004 walked door-to-door and ensured relief materials at people’s doorsteps. “But the current Prime Minister visited the flood-hit area by helicopter." “The ruling party is not standing beside the flood victims in this difficult time. Even, the Prime Minister arrived in Sylhet by helicopter and had a meeting at the Circuit House with senior officials and ministers and MPs. She only gave seven people seven packets as eyewash during her visit,” he said. The BNP leader said the ruling party MPs are also not going to the flood victims as they are not elected with their votes. “In fact, Awami League has no relation with people.” He alleged that Awami League taking mega projects for corruption and plundering, but it does not take any project for the welfare of the country's people. The BNP leader said the government has snatched people's voting and other rights by 'usurping' power. He said their party will not join any other election if it is not held under a non-party neutral government.  “Just like a fox can’t be given the charge of taking care of a chicken, Sheikh Hasina can’t be given the responsibility for holding an election under her.” Fakhrul said BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a movement to resist the current regime and restore people’s voting rights.

The government has invited World Bank President David Malpass to attend the gala inaugural ceremony of the much-awaited Padma Bridge scheduled to be held on June 25. Bangladesh Bridge Authority has e-mailed the invitation to the chief of the multilateral lending agency on Wednesday, an official confirmed to UNB. A hard copy of the invitation card will also be sent to the World Bank country office in Dhaka later. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bridge Authority has started to send invitation cards to guests for the inaugural programme from Wednesday. Invitation cards have been sent to the foreign ministry to distribute among the foreign missions stationed in Dhaka, and offices of the international development agencies to attend the inaugural function. Rupam Anwar, director, admin of Bangladesh Bridge Authority, said distribution of invitation cards will be completed within one week. Also Read: Padma Bridge symbol of dignity; future of Bangladesh hinges much on this bridge: Joy BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will also be invited to join the inaugural ceremony, he added. In 2012, the World Bank had cancelled its $1.2 billion credit for the Padma Bridge project alleging it has proof of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm, and individuals. World Bank’s then-President Robert B Zoellick made a statement on the allegation, which was vehemently denied by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. The bank’s withdrawal led to Hasina’s strong decision to build the bridge with the country’s own funds.

The start of vehicular traffic through the much-awaited Padma Bridge from the morning of June 26, a day after its ceremonial opening by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will herald a groundbreaking change in the country’s road communication. Engineers and workers are working round the clock giving final touches to the country’s largest infrastructure project that will greatly shorten the travel time between the 21 southwestern districts and capital Dhaka. The 6.15 km long bridge is also expected to boost trade and commerce with Bangladesh’s entire southwestern region. Also read: Padma Bridge: Harbinger of economic prosperity of Faridpur