The government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party Bangladesh Awami League (AL) are preparing for a grand celebration on the occasion of the inauguration of the much awaited Padma Bridge, said officials concerned.
It should be mentioned that with the inauguration of this bridge, the long dream of the people of 21 districts of South and South-western part of the country is going to be materialised.
According to sources, the government and the ruling party have taken the initiative to cash the construction of the iconic Padma Bridge as a success, which would help the victory of the AL in the next general election.
Besides, the inauguration programme will be celebrated in a different manner and festive mood as the process of the construction of the country’s biggest ever bridge was discussed at home and abroad even before the start of its construction.
As part of the government moves, officials in the Ministry of Road, Transport and Bridges said that diplomats from different missions in the country, eminent personalities and senior leaders of different political parties would be invited at the inauguration function alongside the presence of members of the cabinet, Members of Parliament and chiefs of three services -- Army, Navy and Air Force.
The government officials also said that plans have been projected to decorate the newly-constructed Padma Bridge with a view to turning it as an attractive one as much as possible.
Officials of the Ministry of Road, Transport and Bridges said that the ministry has formed 18 sub-committees to make the inauguration programme a success.
Besides, the ruling party is preparing for a mass gathering with the presence of huge number of people from the party as well as the general people. The ruling Awami League will arrange a huge gathering on the Zazira end of the bridge on June 25.
Sources in the government and also in the ruling Awami League said it has been planned to make this bridge as attractive as possible in the country even before the commencement of its construction.
Minister for Road, Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader, also the General Secretary of the ruling Awami League, said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has agreed to inaugurate the Padma Bridge for public and transport movement on June 25.
“Alongside the diplomats of different missions and embassies in the country, eminent personalities and leaders from different political parties, including the BNP would also be invited to take part in the inauguration function”, said Obaidul Quader.
Sources said that the government wants to take home the benefits of this successful project. The government also wants to make it an agenda of the next 12th parliamentary elections due to which the Awami League wants to put up shelves all over the country by showdown on the opening day of the bridge.
According to the survey, if the Padma Bridge project is implemented, the gross domestic product (GDP) will increase at the rate of 1.23 percent. South-western GDP will grow by 2.3 percent.
The length of the Padma Bridge (main bridge) is 6.15 km. The two-way flyover is 3.68 kilometers. In all, the length of the bridge is 9.83 kilometers. It will directly connect both the banks of the river Padma with Mawa in Munsiganj, Shibchar in Madaripur and Zazira in Shariatpur.
The cost of the Padma Bridge project is Tk 30,193 crore. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction work of the main bridge on January 12 in 2015.