Padma Bridge
Sheikh Hasina ignored all the conspiracies to build Padma Bridge: President Shahabuddin
President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Wednesday said Sheikh Hasina ignored all the conspiracies to build Padma bridge, which is now a symbol of Bangali nation's pride and self-reliance.
The President told UNB on his way back to Dhaka after paying tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Raman at Tungipara this afternoon.
Shahabuddin said, "The number of conspiracies involved in the construction of this bridge cannot be described in a word."
He said that Sheikh Hasina could ignore all those conspiracies because of her honesty, dedication and patriotism, she succeeded in building this bridge.
As a former commissioner of the ACC, Shahabuddin played an important role to deal with the so-called corruption conspiracy of the Padma Bridge project.
The President said, "Standing at this Padma bridge today on the way from Tungipara to Dhaka, I am observing this charming form of Padma for a very short time and thinking about the contribution of Bangabandhu's daughter, leader Sheikh Hasina."
Due to this self-financed Padma Bridge, Shahabuddin said Bangladesh and the Bengali nation are known to the whole world as a self-reliant and dignified nation.
He also showed his due respect to the prime minister for her uncompromising and farsighted leadership to finish the mega project.
Shahabuddin who took oath on Monday ( April 24) as the 22nd President also recalled the contribution of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to this end and expressed his sincere thanks to her.
Mentioning that the mausoleum site of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara has turned into a holy place with the passage of time, he said "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not only the leader of Bengali nation, but also the nationalist leader of all Bengali speaking people across the world,"
He said that the place where he has been lying has turned into a shrine with the passage of time.
Read more: President pays tribute to Bangabandhu at Tungipara
Valiant freedom fighter Mohammed Shahabuddin said, "After August 15, 1975 while I was fleeing to escape arrest by the then military dictator, one day I was listening to a programme of the Akashvani Kolkata Radio when Devdulal Bandyopadhyay was the presenter".
"Those who killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and subsequently they buried him in remote Tungipara area in a very callous and ruthless manner . . . That careless and neglected burial ground will one day become a holy place for the Bengali people across the world," the President quoted Devdulal as saying.
The President said Devdulal precisely pointed out about the place as the burial site of the nationalist leader has not only become a holy place for the Bangali nation, but also for the Bengali speaking people across the world.
Ecnec clears 12 projects, including one to raise cost of Padma Bridge construction
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved a total of 12 development projects including a revised one to raise the cost of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction by Tk 2412.13 crore and extend the timeframe till June 2024.
The overall estimated cost of the 12 projects is Tk 19,598.84 crore. Only additional costs of four revised projects were counted here.
The approval came from the Ecnec meeting chaired by its chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Banglanagar area.
“A total of 15 projects were placed before today's meeting. Of them, 12 projects got approval and two were deferred. And the rest one got time extension only,” said Planning Minister MA Mannan while briefing reporters.
Of the 12 approved projects, eight are new and the rest four are revised ones.
Among the total estimated cost, Tk 13,203.66 crore will come from the foreign sources as project assistance, while Tk 6,260.72 crore from the GoB fund and the rest Tk 134.46 crore from the fund of an organisation concerned, said the Planning Secretary Satyajit Karmaker.
Regarding the reasons behind the rise of cost of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Construction Project, member of Physical Infrastructure Division of the Planning Commission Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said the VAT rate has risen to 15 percent now from 10 percent as well as the prices of construction materials for river trainings and the price of dollar went up.
As per the project factsheet, the main work of Padma Bridge project has already been completed. But now the revision of the project is required to complete the remaining ancillary works and the payment of contractors’ dues. So, the project can be approved under this consideration, he said.
In terms of cost, the largest three new projects approved in the Ecnec meeting are “Programme on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship and Resilience in Bangladesh Project,” involving an estimated cost of Tk 6,910.94 crore; “Bangladesh Road Safety Project” with Tk 4,988.14 crore; and “Collection of 2 Crude Oil Mother Tankers and 2 Mother Bulk Carrier Ships on the basis of G2G Project” with Tk 2,620.77 crore.
The agricultural (PARTNER) project will be implemented in all the unions of 495 upazilas of the country’s 64 districts by June 2028, mainly for transformation of the traditional agricultural system into commercial agriculture and diversification in the food grains production.
Other major objectives of the project are development of agricultural entrepreneurs for the export of agricultural products and expansion of climate resilient agro-food value-chains.
Also Read: Tk 4323-crore project to improve disaster preparedness, 7 others get Ecnec nod
The Bangladesh Road Safety project will be implemented in all the upazilas of the country by June 2028 in a bid to reduce road accidents and damages as well as enhance the capacity of government agencies concerned for ensuring road safety.
The other new projects are “Improving Computer and Software Engineering Tertiary Education Project (ICSETEP)” involving Tk 1,219.80 crore; "Project for Protection of Charkaua, Chandmari, Jagua, Lamchari and Charmonai Areas in Sadar Upazila of Barisal District from Kirtankhola River Erosion (Phase-1) with Tk 512.92 crore; “Establishment of Institute of Nanotechnology (in Savar) Project” with Tk 380.78 crore; ‘’Building Climate Resilient Livelihoods in the Vulnerable Landscapes in Bangladesh (BCRL) Project” with Tk 76.06 crore; and “Safer Cyberspace for Digital Bangladesh: Enhancing National & Regional Digital Investigation Capability of Bangladesh Police Project” with Tk 59.08 crore.
The three other revised projects are “Construction of Dhaka-Narayanganj dual gauge railway line in parallel to the existing meter gauge railway line (1st revised) Project” with additional cost of Tk 279.69 crore (now cost is Tk 658.35 crore); “Reconstruction of Mymensingh Central Jail (1st revised) Project” with extra cost of Tk 112.54 crore (now the total cost increased to Tk 240.15 crore); and “Reinstallation and Improvement of Level Crossing Gates of the Eastern Region of Bangladesh Railway (3rd revised) Project” with additional cost of Tk 25.99 crore ( now cost is Tk 130.50 crore).
In the Ecnec meeting, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to ensure the facilities in the country’s jails to run the virtual court.
She made this directive during the discussion about the first revision of Reconstruction of Mymensingh Central Jail Project.
Tk 603.76 cr toll collected from Padma Bridge till March: Quader
Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday (April 06, 2023) told parliament that Tk 603.76 crore tolls have been collected from Padma Bridge till March since its inauguration on June 25, 2022.
The minister said this in reply to a tabled question from Awami League MP Benjir Ahmed elected from Dhaka-20.
Quader said after the launch of Bangabandhu Bridge on June 23, 1998, Tk 7697.71 crore have been collected as toll as of March.
In response to another question from Morshed Alam, a lawmaker from Noakhali-2, Quader said that about 6,000 buses of various transport companies including Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) ply Dhaka city.
Also read: Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt
He also said E-ticketing is available on a number of BRTC routes.
Apart from this, e-ticketing has been launched in 3,300 buses of 69 companies out of 97 private transport companies under the supervision of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, he said.
Quader informed the House that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is monitoring these activities.
He said that soon the e-ticketing system will be introduced in the buses of rest of the companies.
Read More: Govt to assist Bangabazar businesses to recover from fire damages: PM Hasina
In reply to another query, Quader said that currently there is no research programme to reduce road accidents in the country.
With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, the question-answer session of today’s parliament sitting was placed on the table.
Govt to assist Bangabazar businesses to recover from fire damages: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (April 05, 2023) said the government will assist the Bangabazar businesspeople as much as possible after estimating the damages caused by Tuesday’s fire.
“I’ve already assured that we will help them as much as we can. We’ll assess who incurred how much loss,” she said addressing an event at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The event was arranged to receive Tk 316.91 crore as first and second installments of the loan provided by the government for construction of Padma Bridge.
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader handed over a cheque of Tk 316,90,97,049 to the Prime Minister as the first and second installments of the loan taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Read More: Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt
Terming the fire as a very tragic incident, Hasina said it is too much to bear the suffering and crying of so many businesspeople ahead of the Eid-ul Fitr.
She said the government undertook a project to construct a planned market there following the fire incidents in 1995 and 2018. But a good number of people obstructed it and filed a writ petition and then the High Court stayed the project.
“Hadn’t it (the project) been stayed at that time, we could have built a good market and then such a terrible accident would not have happened,” she said.
The premier, however, lambasted a number of unruly people who attacked nearby the headquarters of the fire service. Their behavior has angered her, she said.
Read More: Bangabazar blaze: DSCC forms probe committee
The firefighters rushed to the spot soon after fire broke out to extinguish the blaze.
The PM said she asked to identify the attackers and take proper action against them. “Proper action will be taken against them. Case will be filed against them,” she said.
She said if anyone attacks the members or vehicles of the fire service or other public property in future, they won’t be spared.
Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt
The repayment of the loan taken for construction of Padma Bridge started with Tk 316.91 crore paid to the government in the first two installments on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received a cheque of Tk 316,90,97,049 as the first and second installments of the loan.
Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader handed over the cheque to the premier at her official residence Ganabhaban.
The loan was taken from Bangladesh Bank at a low interest rate under an agreement signed between the Finance Division and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said the country will continue to march ahead overcoming any barrier and disaster.
“Bangladesh will continue to march forward, maintaining the current pace of its development journey, no matter how many obstacles come,“ she said.
The PM sought cooperation from the whole nation to face any disaster, accident, the brunt of the war or inflation as the people in cities and villages did during the construction of the Padma Bridge.
"I believe we can move forward overcoming any hurdle if the people stand beside us. Construction of the Padma Bridge with the own finance is the best example of it," she said.
She said the government had to overcome a strong obstacle nationally and internationally during the construction of the iconic bridge.
PM Hasina said she didn’t get support from a number of people regarding the construction of the country’s longest bridge with own finance. It was said that it would never be possible, she said.
She said different heads of the state and government during talks told her that it would be a tough work since the World Bank withdrew its finance from the project. But only Malaysia supported with then Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak saying that it would be possible with own finance, she noted.
Describing the Padma Bridge as the sign of the country’s pride, she said Bangladesh has been able to show its capacity to the world with the construction of the bridge with own finance.
“I think it’s not only a bridge, but also a symbol of pride and capacity of the Bengali nation,” she said, adding that the trial run of train through the Padma Bridge also started from Tuesday last.
On June 25, 2022, the prime minister opened the country’s largest bridge – 6.15-km Padma Bridge- over the mighty Padma River.
The 6.15-km bridge connected directly the country’s 21 south and south-western districts with the capital, and it is expected to accelerate the GDP growth by 1.23 per cent and make an outstanding contribution to socio-economic development by alleviating poverty.
The total allocation was Tk 30,193.39 crore, but the allocation for the main bridge was Tk 12,133.39 crore (including Tk 1,000 crore for installation of 400-kv electricity transmission line and gas line).
Besides, the Tk 9,400 crore was allocated for river training works, Tk 1,907.68 crore for approach roads (including two toll plazas, construction of two buildings for police stations and three service areas), Tk 1,515 crore for the rehabilitation of the displaced people (caused by the project) and Tk 2698.73 crore for land acquisition.
The Padma Bridge is expected to last more than 100 years, but its construction cost will be recovered in the next 35 years.
PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the cheque handing-over event, while former Cabinet Secretary and Bridge Division Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam spoke on the occasion.
Governor of Bangladesh Bank Abdur Rouf Talukder, Finance Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin, Bridge Division Secretary Md. Monjur Hossain were present at the event.
Bus falls into ditch in Madaripur: Death toll now 19
The death toll from a tragic road accident in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila rose to 19 this noon (March 19, 2023), with three more succumbing to their injuries.
Two of the injured died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from Madaripur, said Md Bachhu Miah, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost.
He said five more injured were admitted at the hospital and are undergoing treatment.
Another injured died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Madaripur.
Read more: 4 killed, 15 injured in Tangail road crash
Earlier in the morning, a Dhaka-bound bus of Emad Paribahan from Khulna fell into a roadside ditch in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila.
Abu Nayeem Md Mofazzal Huq, officer-in-charge of Shibchar Highway Police Station, said the incident occurred around 8 am when the bus fell into a roadside ditch after its driver lost control over the wheel on the approach road of Padma Bridge, in Simana area under Kathalbari union of Shibchar upazila, leaving 14 people including the bus driver dead on the spot.
Two people breathed their last on the way to the hospital, he said.
The OC informed that 20 injured people have so far been rescued from the wreckage.
Members of fire service and civil defence and police, accompanied by locals, have been conducting the rescue operation, he said.
The identities of the dead could not be known immediately, the OC said. Speeding might have caused the accident that led to the casualties, he added.
Read More: All 64 districts to celebrate Padma Bridge's inauguration
Padma Bridge: Changing lives and landscapes in southwestern Bangladesh
Saiful, who used to be a van-puller, now sells ‘fuchka’ (street food) near the Padma Bridge.
He now earns significantly more than he did previously – thanks to the boom the locality has seen in tourism since the Padma Bridge opened in June 2022. Many day laborers, like Saiful, are taking advantage of the positive change in the area and have gotten involved in the informal tourism – earning a good living.
Apart from the rise in tourists visiting various attractions in the country’s southwestern region – facilitated by the improved communication thanks to the bridge, a large number of people are arriving just to see the Padma Bridge, a modern infrastructure marvel.
Many hotels, restaurants, resorts, and parks have been built near the bridge. Many have changed professions in the hope of earning more.
Also read: 3rd Shitalakhya Bridge: Vehicles coming via Padma Bridge won’t need to enter Dhaka, PM says
Numerous hotels and restaurants have been built in the Naodoba area of Jazira upazila, under Shariatpur district, according to UNB’s Faridpur correspondent. Several tourist attractions have been developed in Faridpur district’s Bhangar Char Rasta Mor, according to him.
“I came here with my daughter because she wanted to see the Padma Bridge,” said Naimul Islam, from Faridpur. “We went to the nearest restaurant after sightseeing.”
IMF DMD arrives in Dhaka today to finalize $4.5 billion loan
The Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Antoinette Monsio Sayeh, arrives in Dhaka today (January 14, 2023) for a 5-day visit.
She will stay in Dhaka till January 18. During her visit, Sayeh will meet with the prime minister, finance minister, governor of Bangladesh Bank and other senior officials of the government.
According to finance ministry sources, Sayeh is coming to Dhaka from Delhi after completing her current Indian visit.
The IMF DMD will visit Padma Bridge on January 18. A meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled for January 16. Sayeh will report to the IMF headquarters regarding the $4.5 billion loan for Bangladesh to combat the global recession.
Read more: Govt works to implement IMF conditions to get $4.5 billion loan: Official
The report will be presented at the IMF board meeting. Based on this, the process of providing the loan will be finalized.
The government has reached an in-principle agreement on the loan with the IMF. Now only the formalities remain.
Some conditions have already been implemented. Electricity prices were hiked by an average of 5 percent on Thursday to implement another IMF condition.
The government will seek some time to implement some other IMF conditions.
Read more: Government working on IMF’s conditions to get $4.5 billion loan
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank will announce the new monetary policy for the period from January to June of the current financial year tomorrow in accordance with the conditions of the IMF. It will give the impression of raising the loan interest rate to a limited extent. At the same time, monetary policy will be used to control the rate of inflation.
For this reason, the matter of increasing the policy interest rate of the central bank is also in the process.
The government hopes to receive the first installment of the IMF loan in February. For the first installment, $45.45 crore will be received. Thereafter one installment will be made every six months.
Read More: IMF loan is like a character certificate: PM’s advisor Mashiur
Bogies, other equipment for Padma Bridge Rail Project unloaded at Ctg port
Workers at the Chattogram Seaport on Sunday unloaded 15 bogies of a train and other equipment imported from China for Padma Bridge Rail Project, an official said.
Of the 15 bogies, eight were unloaded on Saturday while the rest were unloaded on Sunday at No 12 jetty of the port, said Omar Faruque, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority.
Another 85 bogies will reach the port from China over next few months, he said.
Read more: Akhaura-Agartala rail link to open in June 2023: Railway Minister
Man gets 5-yr jail for spreading ‘human head’ rumour about Padma Bridge construction
A Rajshahi court on Tuesday sentenced man to five-year imprisonment in a case over spreading rumour about using human head to construct Padma Bridge in 2011 through Facebook.
Rajshahi divisional Cyber Crime Tribunal Judge Ziaur Rahman pronounced the judgment.
The convict is Razib Hossain,30, son of Abdur Razzaq of Durgapur upazila in Rajshahi.
In October, 2011, Razib posted a status from his Facebook profile that said, ”The Padma Bridge construction in Bangladesh has been obstructed as it will need more than 1 lakh human heads. As per the directive of the Prime Minister, 41 teams are out on the streets, playgrounds, markets with sharp weapons and gas spray to collect those heads,” said Public Prosecutor Ismat Ara.
Also read: Woman gets 5-yr jail term for possessing drugs in Chattogram Woman gets 5-yr jail term for possessing drugs in Chattogram
He also said the main target of these teams are women and children and they are doing this heinous crime even entering people’s houses so he posted it to create awareness, she said.
Razib was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment under section 25(2) of the Digital Security Act, 2018, with fine of Tk two lakh. In case of failure to pay the fine, he will have to serve another six months’ imprisonment.
Also read: Attack on Ghoraghat UNO: One gets 13 years jail
Under section 31(2) of the same act, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment with Tk 3 lakh in fine. In case of failure to pay the fine he will have to serve six months more imprisonment.