The government has invited Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to join the opening programme of the Padma Bridge on June 25. The Bridges Division sent the invitation card to Yunus Centre on Wednesday, Director (Administration) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Rupam Anwar told UNB on Thursday. Read: BNP turns down invitation to join Padma Bridge opening programme Yunus Centre Deputy General Manager (DGM) Rahima Khatun received the invitation card. Rahima told UNB that they have already sent the invitation to Prof Yunus. The inauguration of the Padma Bridge will be celebrated in 64 districts of the country simultaneously on June 25.

The government on Wednesday invited BNP to join the opening programme of the Padma Bridge on June 25. Dulal Chandra Sutradhar, a deputy secretary of the Bridges Division, went to BNP's Nayapaltan central office around 11am and handed over the invitation cards to party’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Also read:Cancel Padma Bridge grand opening; instead stand by flood victims, BNP urges govt Seven BNP leaders--party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and vice-chairman Hafiz Uddin Ahmed--were invited to participate in the inaugural programme of the much-awaited bridge. Talking to reporters, Dulal Chandra said he, on behalf of the Bridges Division, came to the BNP office with the invitation cards. Also read:BNP slams govt inaction towards helping flood victims Rizvi said a deputy secretary gave the invitation cards to the BNP office when he was present there. "I don’t want to make any comment on this. We have no interest in it.” Replying to a question, he said there is no reason for their party leaders to take part in the programme.