The completion of the long-awaited Padma Bridge project is testimony to the “courageous decisions and far sighted leadership” of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka says.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate this 6.15-kilometer architectural marvel on Saturday morning
On the inauguration, the government and people of India convey greetings and felicitations to the government and people of Bangladesh on the successful completion of this landmark project.
“This success vindicated the Prime Minister's decisions and also our conviction in this regard, as expressed through our steadfast support when Bangladesh decided to proceed with the project alone,” the High Commission said.
“The Padma Bridge would not only help improve intra-Bangladesh connectivity, it will also provide much needed impetus to logistics and businesses connecting India and our shared sub-region. This bridge will play an important role in fostering greater bilateral and subregional connectivity.
“The people of India once again congratulate the fraternal people of Bangladesh on the momentous occasion of inauguration of Padma Bridge, in the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s Liberation,” read the statement.
India is one of the “most emerging development partners” of Bangladesh in recent years.
Being closest neighbours, according to the Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance, both Bangladesh and India have emphasised the promotion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The two friendly countries signed a Joint Communiqué during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in 2010 to extend the area of cooperation in different sectors in both the countries. Extending a soft loan of $1 billion to Bangladesh by India was the most significant issue in the Joint Communiqué. Of that $1 billion, India has converted $200 million as grant assistance.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina later declared that this grant of $200 million from India would also be invested in Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project as the project has been entirely funded by the government.
The finance ministry provided Bangladesh Bridge Authority an amount of Taka 30,000 crore as credit.
