Padma Bridge
Padma Bridge to bring good luck for the Sundarbans tourism
The Sundarbans, the world’s largest natural mangrove forest, braces for footfalls of greater number of visitors owing to the newly opened Padma Bridge that has brought the famed tourist destination in the south-western region closer to the rest of the country.
Travel to the region will be smooth and fast, according to tour operators and forest officials.
The forest department is already gearing up to welcome the rush of tourists by opening four new ecotourism centers close to the forest, which is shared by Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.
Read: Special cattle train on C'ganj-Dhaka route ahead of Eid
Tourists will now have direct road access to the forest and its adjoining areas Mongla in Bagerhat.
Md Belayet Hossain, divisional forest officer (DFO-east) of the Sundarbans said, “The new tourism centres will be built at Andharmanik in Chandpai range, Ali Banda in Sarankhola range, Sheikher Tek at Satkhira range and Kalabogi under the Sundarban Ecotourism Project at the cost of Tk 25 crore. The four new ecotourism centres will be added to the existing seven at Koromjol Herbaria, Kotka , Kochikhali, Dubla of Chandpai range on the eastern part and Hiran point and Kalagachia of west division.”
In these centres, gazebos, foot trailers, public toilets, watch towers and walkways will be built for tourists, he added.
Stop dancing to the tune of foreigners, Momen tells country’s so-called “pundits”
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has advised the so-called “pundits” of the country not to dance to the tune of foreigners but instead focus on the country’s interest saying that the newly opened Padma Bridge is a shining example in this regard.
He said it is time to realise the fact that lectures from foreigners are not always good for the country.
“We should have respect for something which ensures people’s welfare. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina knows her country and her people. It is not right to just jump on the words of foreigners,” Momen said on Tuesday. The Padma Bridge is a lesson that the critics need to learn to decisions for national interest and people’s welfare, he added.
Tk 1.97 crore toll collected from Padma Bridge on day 2
The government earned Tk 1.97 crore in revenue through toll from the vehicles that crossed the Padma Bridge in 24 hours till 6 am on Monday.
“Tk 1.97 crore was collected in 24 hours till 6 am on Monday,” Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA) Superintending Engineer Abul Hossain told UNB.
READ: Padma Bridge: Over Tk 2 cr toll collected from vehicles on 1st day
Around 15,274 vehicles crossed the bridge during this period, he said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the bridge on Saturday and it was opened to traffic on Sunday morning.
Set up commission to identify plotters against Padma Bridge project, HC tells govt
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.
Padma Bridge to transform Bagerhat’s tourism industry
The much-awaited Padma Bridge finally opened to traffic on Sunday. With this, the tourism industry of the country’s southwest region is expected to undergo massive transformation.
Thousands will get jobs, a new economic corridor will be opened for the region’s people. New establishments will grow centering Khulna, Bagerhat and Kuakata and the number of tourists will increase. Income from the tourism sector will also shot up manifold, according to officials and tour operators.
The expected transformation will be brought about by the Padma Bridge.
Also read: Shariatpur fish traders see huge prospects as Padma Bridge opens
4 injured as truck overturns near Padma Bridge
Four people were injured when an onion-laden truck overturned on the viaduct road of Padma Bridge at Mawa point in Munshiganj district on Monday, said police.
The identities of the injured could not be known immediately.
Also read: Youth fined for violating rules on Padma Bridge
Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Padma Bridge North side Police Station said accident occurred in the afternoon when the Dhaka-bound onion-laden truck turned turtle and crashed with a fence of the bridge after being hit by another jeep on the viaduct of Padma Bridge, leaving four people including tis driver injured.
The injured were taken to Srinagar Upazila Health Complex.
Police arrested Abdur Razzak, 28, the driver of the jeep in this connection.
Also read: 2 motorcyclists injured in first accident on Padma Bridge die
Vehicular movement on the Padma Bridge came to a halt for some time due to the accident.
Padma Bridge cost to be repaid by 2057: Obaidul Quader
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Monday said the construction cost of Padma Bridge would be collected from tolls by 2057.
The Minister said this while replying to a tabled question from ruling party MP in reserved women seat Kh. Momota Hena Lovely.
"Bangladesh Bridge Authority will repay all the loans given by the government in 140 quarterly installments in 35 years with the toll collected from vehicles plying on the Padma Bridge," he said.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 6.15 kilometers Padma Bridge on June 25 connecting south-western districts with Dhaka.
Besides, in response to Jatiya Party lawmaker elected from Pirojpur Md Rustum Ali Faraji, railway minister Nurul Islam Sujan said that the cost per passenger per kilometer of the railway is Tk 2.43 and the income is Tk 0.82.
On the other hand, the cost per tonne of transporting goods is Tk 7.94 per tonne and the income is Tk 3.18.
The minister presented the revenue and expenditure information on the basis of the railway costing profile prepared for the 2016-17 financial year.
Read: Padma Bridge starts by raking in over Tk 1 million an hour
He presented the revenue figures of Railways for the last 5 years (FY 2016-17 to FY 2020-21).
According to the information of the minister, in 5 years it has carried 36.17 crore passengers and 2.8 crore tons of cargo.
At this time the income of the railway has been Tk 6.8 crore, the minister said.
He said that passenger transport is increasing day by day as the country's largest public transport railway is a safe and comfortable vehicle.
Youth fined for violating rules on Padma Bridge
A mobile court on Monday fined Tk 1000 to a young man for breaching rules while crossing the Padma Bridge, on the second day of the opening of the long-cherished bridge to vehicular traffic.
The mobile court led by executive magistrate of the local administration Ashraful Kabir slapped the fine to Fakhrul Alam, a private car driver along with a group, numbering 7 to 8 for making tiktok video after parking his car on the bridge in the afternoon, said
The mobile court also warned five vehicle drivers and asked them to refrain from violating the rules.
Read: CID detains youth who removed nuts, bolts of Padma Bridge
“The local administration has issued a mass notification on the movement of vehicles on the Padma Bridge and its maintenance following the occurrence of many incidents on the first day of opening of the bridge. Directives were also given to conduct mobile court,” he said.
The government has imposed ban on plying of motorcycles on the Padma Bridge until further notice.
The ban imposed by the Bridge Division under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Bridges will be effective from 6am Monday.
The Press Information Department issued a notification in this regard on Sunday night.
Hearing on rule for identifying plotters against Padma Bridge Tuesday
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.
Shariatpur fish traders see huge prospects as Padma Bridge opens
Fish traders of Shariatpur, one of the two districts connected by the Padma Bridge, are expecting that their business will boom as the much-awaited bridge opened to traffic on Sunday.
The fisheries owners expect new business opportunities with the inauguration of the country’s longest bridge.
With the opening of the Padma Bridge, a dramatic change will take place in the communication system of the entire southern region including Shariatpur.
Read: Padma Bridge: Over Tk 2 cr toll collected from vehicles on 1st day
The door of potential for the fisheries sector in Shariatpur district, one of the largest fish producers in the country, will be opened, said local traders and fishermen.
Fish traders expect that now it will be possible to sell fish worth Tk 500 to Tk 600 crore a year in Dhaka markets.
Different fish including hilsa netted from the point of Suresh of the Padma River can be easily sent to at least 40 districts in the country including the capital.
This will not only benefit the existing fish producers economically but will also create many new entrepreneurs and huge employment opportunities.
According to the District Fisheries Department, there are 15,182 fish farms in 2,626 hectares of land in the district.
Fish are transported by road from six upazilas of the district to different parts of the country including Dhaka.