About 20,000 residents of Sonagazi upazila of Feni and Companiganj upazila of Noakhali district are in distress as no concrete bridge has been constructed over the Chhoto Feni River at Kazirhat since it collapsed 22 years back. The bridge, collapsed in 2002 due to high tide, was the only mean of crossing it for the people of two upazilas of Feni and Noakhali districts. Despite promises from public representatives and political leaders, the bridge has not been built even after 22 years. Sources said a Regulator-cum-bridge with 20 gates was built over the Chhoto Feni River in 1961-62 at Kazirhat in Sonagazi upazila during Pakistan era to protect the coastal areas of the district from tidal surge. Read more: Focus on rural dev along with infrastructure: PM Hasina tells ECNEC The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) got the task of management and repair work of the regulator. WAPDA conducted maintenance work till 1970 and later it was renamed as Water Development Board.

After a month and half of staying closed following inundation, the iconic hanging bridge on Kaptai Lake, known as a “symbol of Rangamati”, has opened to tourists and visitors. The local administration withdrew the ban on tourist movement on the bridge on Friday (October 20, 2023) after the water receded. Several lakh tourists from across the country and abroad come to Rangamati every year and the hanging bridge is a must-see attraction. During monsoon, the district administration restricts the movement of tourists on Kaptai Lake hanging bridge due to inundation every year. Water transports banned in Kaptai Lake On September 3, the local administration suspended movement on the bridge in Rangamati as it went under water following a rise in water level in the lake due to heavy rain. Water level rises in Kaptai lake after heavy rains; power generation increased

In another development milestone, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (October 19, 2023) opened 150 newly constructed bridges in 39 districts and 14 newly constructed overpasses of the Roads and Highways Department simultaneously. She also unveiled the foundation stones of 1,100-metre Kewatkhali Bridge and 1,471-metre Rahmatpur Bridge over Brahmaputra river in Mymensingh, while opened newly constructed DTCA Bhaban for Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, BRTA Automated Motor Vehicle Fitness Test Centre of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, BRTC Bus Depot and Training Centre of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation as well as conferred the financial assistance to the road accident victims. Also read: PM Hasina denounces BNP as a terrorist party that kills people The premier inaugurated these infrastructures through a virtual platform from a programme in Sarak Bhaban in the city’s Tejgaon area. The audiences were also connected virtually from Mymensingh Circuit House Ground and BRTA Office in Mirpur. She also unveiled a mural of Bangabandhu in Sarak Bhaban, the office of Roads and Highways Department. In less than one year since the simultaneous inauguration of 100 bridges across the country, the prime minister opened 150 more bridges -- 40 bridges in Mymensingh Division, 32 in Dhaka Division, 27 in Chattogram, 22 in Rajshahi, 12 in Khulna, eight each in Barishal and Rangpur and one in Sylhet division. Also read: PM Hasina declares state mourning on Saturday for Palestinians killed by Israel Total length of the 150 bridges is 9.45km and the total length of 14 overpasses — eight in Rajshahi Division and six in Rangpur Division — is 689 meters. The 1100-metre Kewatkhali bridge, which is set to be the largest steel-arch bridge in the country, will be constructed at a cost of Tk 3263.63 crore, while the 1471-metre Rahmatpur bridge will be constructed at a cost of Tk 358 crore by June 2025. Stop race to overtake on roads: PM Addressing the function, the prime minister asked the drivers of motor vehicles to stop abnormal races on roads and tendency to overtake others unnecessarily, for preventing accidents and thus protecting the lives of the people. “We’ll have to stop the unusual competitions that take place on roads and the tendency to overtake,” she said. She stressed the need for imparting proper training to the drivers to check the unusual race on the road and change their mindset to avoid the unnecessary race. “They (drivers) should be given psychological education that it (the race) would invite damage not only to the people rather the drivers may lose their own lives as well,” she added. Hasina asked all to follow speed limit and traffic rules and allow the drivers to take proper rest. She focused on her government’s success over improvement of the country’s road connectivity, including development of highways and construction of bridges during her three consecutive regimes since 2009. On 7 November 2022, PM Hasina opened the 100 bridges in 25 districts. The total length of the bridges was 5.5km. Also read: PM Hasina urges OIC neighbours to resolve their problems through dialogue Among the 150 bridges constructed with a total cost of Tk 3,287 crore, the notable ones include Garakola and Nayarhat bridges in Gopalganj, Chapair bridge in Gazipur, Titas bridge in Brahmanbaria, Muhuri bridge in Feni, Matamuhuri bridge in Cox’s Bazar, Machrong bridge in Barishal, Tulalampur bridge in Narail, Simakhali bridge in Magura, Arialkhar bridge in Bogura, Bahagili bridge in Nilphamari, Chatak-Surma bridge in Sylhet. Eight of the new overpasses were constructed on Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur Highway. The premier opened the distribution of financial assistance among the road accident victims and family members. A total of 162 victims or family members –-42 persons from Dhaka Division, 39 from Chattogram, 26 from Rajshahi, 18 from Rangpur, 11 from Khulna, 10 each from Mymensingh and Sylhet and six from Barishal division—received the financial assistance in the function. The distribution of the financial assistance among the road crash victims will continue. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Rowshan Ara Mannan and Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri spoke at the event, while Chief Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Syed Moinul Hasan delivered the welcome speech.

Despite completion, a concrete bridge built at the cost of Tk 69 lakh over Itapota canal in Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat district has not been fully functional for over one year due to no approach road on both sides. During a recent visit to the bridge site, this UNB correspondent found that there are no connecting roads on either side of the bridge as the contractor left it abandoned. Bridge over canal in Kurigram: No renovation since Pakistan era According to the Sadar upazila project implementation sources, the 50 ft long and 14 ft wide bridge over the Itapota canal was constructed at a cost of Tk 68,68,703 under the Disaster Management Department in 2021-22 fiscal year. The construction work was finished in May, 2022, but the contractor firm has not handed over the project to the authorities concerned yet. About 80 percent payment of the total project has been made to the contractor. Stop construction of bridges on 6 rivers in Jashore: National Committee to protect shipping, roads Local people have made a bamboo bridge on both sides of the concrete bridge to use it which is also at risk of collapse any time. Some 15,000 people of Itapota, Bangram, Chararpar, Kharua and Bumka villages are using the bamboo bridge every day, putting their lives at risk. Sahara Begum, said, “A concrete bridge was built over the canal but the authorities concerned did not build an approach road to use it. We, with our children, have to cross the bamboo bridge first to use the concrete bridge, which is strenuous for us.” Habibur Rahman Habib, chairman of Mogalhat Union Parishad, said, “A meeting was held over the perilous situation of the concrete bridge and the contractor firm has been asked to build connecting roads on both sides of the bridge. They also assured us of starting their work after water recedes.” 50 years without a concrete bridge! Mashiur Rahman, Sadar Upazila Project Implementation Officer, said that soil dumped on both sides of the concrete bridge had caved in during flash floods several times and the contractor firm is taking steps to put more soil and do the piling work.

Dreams of some three lakh people in Kachua and Matlab Dakkhin upazilas of Chandpur district are finally coming true following the opening of a 42-meter long bridge over Boaljhuri canal. Socio-economic life in the locality will see a major change through the inauguration of the bridge. Read : 6-year-old girl dies as dengue cases rise in Kushtia The two upazilas — Matlab Dakkhin and Kachua — are separated by the Boaljhuri canal and people of the two upazilas had to cross the canal through boats. To mitigate the suffering of the people of two upazilas, local lawmakers took an initiative to build a bridge in an effort to ease communication. Once the bridge is opened, the social and economic lifestyle of Prashannacup, Banglabazar villages in Kachua bordering area and Kalikapur, Chartbhanga, Kashimpur villages under Matlab Dakkhin upazila will be changed. People can easily go to the district headquarters in a short period of time and at low cost. A Alim, upazila engineer of Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED), said they have completed the construction work of 42-meter concrete bridge over the Boaljhuri canal, at a cost of Tk 2.55 crore, financed by the government, and it will be opened on September 12. Read : Bodies of couple recovered in Chandpur Former minister and MP of Kachua constituency Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir will inaugurate the bridge, he said. The construction work of the bridge started in the 2020-21 fiscal year but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Approach roads have been built on both sides of the bridge, said A Alim. During a recent visit to the bridge area, the UNB correspondent saw that the painting of the bridge is underway. A number of stalls offering fuchka, coffee and tea were set up near the bridge while the construction of many shops is underway on both sides of the river. People were seen roaming around the bridge before the opening ceremony. Read : Bangladeshi cattle trader shot dead ‘by BSF ,along Panchagarh border Locals Abul Hossain, Shafique Patwari, said they had suffered a lot due to the absence of a bridge over the canal. The commute to the district headquarters used to be long. The bridge will help boost trade and income in the two upazilas, they believe. Teachers of Matlab Dakkhin Kalikapur High School said they had to cross the canal by boat to go to the school but now students and teachers can easily go to the school in a short time using the bridge.

The Bridges Division on Monday (June 19, 2023) paid Tk 316.02 crore as third and fourth installments of the loan taken for construction of Padma Bridge. Bridges Division Secretary Manjur Hossain handed over a cheque of Tk 316,02,69,093 to the Senior Secretary of Finance Division around 10 am  in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said a press release of Road Transport and Bridges Ministry. Read: Repayment of Padma Bridge loan starts with Tk 316.91 crore given to govt Road Transport and Bridge Minister Obaidul Quader, cabinet members, secretary, principal secretary to the prime minister were also present at that time. With this, the Bridges Division paid a total of Tk 632,93,36,6142 to the government in installments. Read: Tk 660.24 cr toll collected from Padma Bridge till April 25: Quader Earlier on April 5, the Bridges Division began the repayment of the loan with Tk 316,90,97,049 from the revenue it earned as toll collection from the bridge. 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. Read: Padma Bridge Rail Link: 75% complete, on course for June 2024 handover In line with a revised agreement with the finance division on 26 July 2022, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) will repay the loan in 35 years through 140 installments (four installments each year). The repayment will continue up to the fiscal year 2056-57. The authority collected tolls worth Tk 779,75,87,000 from the bridge till June 18,2023.

Over Tk 660.24 crore toll has been collected from the Padma Bridge till April 25, said Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday. Besides, 77,529 motorbikes crossed the bridge from 6 am on April 22 till 6 am on April 26 and during this period, Tk 77,52,900 toll were collected, he said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting with the staff of the Bridges Division at the Secretariat. Read more: Tk 603.76 cr toll collected from Padma Bridge till March: Quader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in September, said Quader. He also asked the authorities concerned to take steps in advance considering the cattle market, movement of cattle-laden vehicles and rains to ensure smooth journey of people. Presided over by Bridges Division Secretary Md Manjur Hossain, Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority, Kazi Md Ferdous and project directors of different projects and high officials concerned were present at the meeting.  

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.

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.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government has been developing a modern transport system by implementation of different projects to accelerate the country’s economic growth. “We’re developing a modern transport system,” she said while opening the 1493-metre ‘Bangamata Begum Fazilatun Nesa Mujib 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge’ over Kacha River at Bekutia in Pirojpur, which established the uninterrupted road connectivity between Khulna Division and Barishal Division. The premier joined the opening ceremony of the Bekutia bridge through a virtual platform from her office here in the capital. Read:PM opens Bangamata Bridge over Kacha River in Pirojpur She said her government enhanced the total length of the country’s highways to 22,000km and 718 km highways have already been upgraded into 4-lane or above-lane ones, while the works are underway to turn more than 600 km highways into 4-lane or above-lane ones. Hasina said the government is now implementing different projects including metro rail and elevated expressway projects in Dhaka, 20-km Rapid Bus Transit (project) from Gazipur to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River in Chattogram and 10-Lane Tongi Bridge Construction projects. “I think once these projects are completed, our economy will get further momentum,” she said. The construction work of the bridge was started on November 1 in 2018. Read Floating bridge built by school teacher ends suffering of Lalmonirhat villagers The Roads and Highways Department constructed the bridge at a cost of Tk 894.08 crore. The Chinese government provided Tk 654.80 crore as project assistance for the bridge while the Bangladesh government spent Tk 239.80 crore. The bridge also strengthened the road connectivity between Pirojpur and Dhaka. It also strengthened the road connectivity among Kuakata Sea beach, Payra deep sea port, Mongla sea port and the country's largest land port Benapole. Sheikh Hasina said it is her government’s duty to change the fate of the people in the entire country. “We’ve already advanced a long way in the journey of our socio-economic development. Bangladesh attained the status of a developing country. I think we’ll able to achieve further economic prosperity,” she said. Read Padma Bridge: Know Its Amazing Facts, Engineering Wonders She said the people of the southern region had long been deprived due to poor connectivity with the capital. The people of this region used to come to Dhaka for livelihoods by crossing several mighty rivers risking their lives and facing immense sufferings. But now the communication between Dhaka and the southern region became easier as her government constructed many bridges including Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Shikarpur-Duarika Bridge and Gabkhan Bridge, said Hasina. Noting that many other bridges are being constructed in this region, she said the people of the southern region would not be neglected anymore. Read Dickson impressed by joint efforts to construct climate-resilient infrastructure in Bangladesh About the newly opened bridge, the PM said it would help bring economic prosperity for the people of Pirojpur. “The communication between Pirojpur and Dhaka has now become very easy,” she added. The premier reiterated her call to all for boosting the food production amid the global crisis induced by the Russia-Ukraine war. “Even a single inch of land shouldn’t remain uncultivated,” she went on. The PM again urged the people to exercise austerity in the use of electricity, water and fuels during this tough time. Read European company interested to develop infrastructure in Bangladesh Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming also spoke at the opening ceremony conducted by PM’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus. Later, the premier exchanged views with the beneficiaries who participated in the two rallies on the two sides of the bridge. Fisheries and Livestock Minister, also Pirojpur-1 MP, SM Rezaul Karim was present at a rally at the west side of the bridge, while Pirojpur-2 MP Anwar Hossain Manju was present at another rally at its east side. Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division ABM Amin Ullah Nuri made a power-point presentation over the newly constructed Bangamata Bridge over Kacha River at Bekutia in Pirojpur. Read Edotco's solar street lamp project launched