The High Court on Tuesday ordered the appointment of a commission of inquiry to identify the "conspirators" who spun fake stories of corruption in the Padma Bridge Project. A bench of justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo asked the government to implement the order within a month in accordance with Section 3 of the Inquiry Commission Act, 1965, while hearing a petition. The commission should submit its report within two months of its constitution, the court said. Also read: Youth fined for violating rules on Padma Bridge The Cabinet Secretary, the Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary, the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary, the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and Inspector General of Police (IGP) have been asked to implement the order. In Monday’s hearing, the court said, “Those who are against such national interests and development, are the enemies of the nation, the enemies of the country, they must be identified.” On February 15, 2017, the HC issued a rule asking the government why it should not be directed to form an inquiry committee or commission for identifying the plotters to bring them under justice referring several newspaper reports. Also read: Padma Bridge cost to be repaid by 2057: Obaidul Quader The Cabinet Division, Home, Law and Communications secretaries, the ACC Chairman and the Inspector General of Police were made respondents to the rule and asked to reply in four weeks. On March 20 of the same year, the state asked for eight weeks to respond to the rule and the HC granted it time till May 7.

The High Court will hold hearing on Tuesday on a rule on whether a commission be formed to identify the people who made up fake stories of corruption over the Padma Bridge Project. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo delivered the order on Monday. The HC also commented that the people who made up fake stories of corruption over the Padma Bridge Project should be identified. Also read: Padma Bridge is a befitting reply to conspirators, PM tells a huge rally after its opening The High Court said, “The Padma Bridge is our national asset. It is our pride.” “Those who are against such national interests and development, they are the enemies of the nation, the enemies of the country, they must be identified.” Deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state in the court while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). On February 15, 2017, the HC issued a rule asking the government why it shall not be directed to form an inquiry committee or commission for identifying the plotters to bring them under justice referring several newspaper reports. The Cabinet Division, Home, Law and Communications Secretary, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) were made respondents to the rule and asked to reply in four weeks. Also read: CID detains youth who removed nuts, bolts of Padma Bridge On March 20 of the same year, the state asked for eight weeks to respond to the rule and report and HC granted it till May 7.

A 26-year-old Chinese engineer, working in the Padma Bridge Project, remains missing three days after he presumably fell into the river near the Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj's Louhajang. Zhao Jianpeng, who was working for Padma Bridge Project contractor China Major Bridge Company, went missing on June 22. Read: Chinese engineer goes missing in Padma China Major Bridge Engineering Company announced a Tk2 lakh reward for information about Zhao's whereabouts, Mawa river police Officer-in-Charge of Sirajul Kabir said Friday. "There was no trace of the missing person, although the fire service, coast guard, river police; and army personnel working in the security team of the project conducted rescue operations from Tuesday night to Friday," Sirajul said. "However, the operations will resume Saturday." Zhao was tasked with installing a power tower (number 13) of the National Grid as part of the project. He had gone to the tower point for work at 5pm and went missing around 8:30pm on June 22. His colleagues alerted police after failing to locate him. Read: No trace of Chinese engineer 24 hrs after likely falling into Padma It is suspected that Zhao fell into the Padma river. However, the local and foreign engineers, who were also working there, could not confirm if Zhao fell into the river since no one saw it happening. Sirajul said, "Several engineers and other workers stay at a makeshift camp near the ferry terminal in Louhajang, and they use boats to go to the tower point in the river daily." "On Tuesday night, Zhao went to the tower point for work but went missing around 8.30pm. His colleagues alerted us after failing to locate him," he added. Read Living in fear of the mighty Padma

There is still no sign of a 26-year-old Chinese engineer, working in the Padma Bridge Project, more than 24 hours after he reportedly fell in the river near the Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj's Louhajang. Zhao Jianpeng was tasked with installing a power tower (number 13) of the National Grid as part of the project. He had gone to the tower point for work at 5pm and went missing around 8:30pm Tuesday. His colleagues alerted police after failing to locate him. On being informed, the fire service, coast guard, river police; and army personnel working in the security team of the project started conducting rescue operations but there was no trace of him till 9pm today.

A 25-year-old Chinese engineer working in the Padma Bridge Project has gone missing in the river  near Shimulia ghat in Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj, police said Wednesday. Joe has been tasked with the job of installing a power tower (number 13) of the National Grid as part of the multipurpose Padma Bridge Project. Sirajul Kabir, in-charge of Mawa River Police, said that a number of engineers and other workers stay at a makeshift camp near the ferry ghat in Louhajang and they use boats to go to the tower point in the river daily. Also read: Remains of missing boy found in Chattogram shrine pond "On Tuesday night, Joe went to the tower point for work but went missing around  8.30 pm. His colleagues alerted us after failing to locate him," the OC said. Also read: Missing man’s body fished out of Meghna On information, Coast Guard divers conducted a search operation in the river in the night only. "We are yet to find him," the OC said.  

Approximately 90 percent work of main part of the Padma Bridge has been completed along with 81 percent overall progress in the project, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said Friday.

The implementation tenure of Parma Bridge project, a mega project of the country, has been extended up to 2022 as its works suffered setback due to COVID-19 pandemic and floods. 

The government has taken a huge development programme in the new fiscal to upgrade the railway communication of the country considering the public-friendly role of railways as a cheap and safe mode of communication across the country.

About 4,050 metres of the much-hyped Padma Bridge became visible after the installation of  its 27th span on Saturday.