Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the main work of the largest-ever dream-mega-project, Padma Multipurpose Bridge on December 12, 2015.
While inaugurating the river training work at the Jajira point, the Prime Minister asked the whole world to see endeavors of Bangladesh in implementing the biggest self-financed project without any help from donor agencies.
"We can, we would do it on our own finance, we have reached that day," Sheikh Hasina told a civic rally at Jajira in Shariatpur district on that day.
Pointing to World Bank's refusal to release its promised $1.2b loan for the 6.15-kilometre bridge after bringing 'false' corruption charges against the government and her family members, the Prime Minister said she was firm to implement the project to break the tradition of borrowing from donor agencies in implementing big projects.
Hasina said the countrymen extended all-out support to the government after it took a decision to construct the bridge with own resources as the WB pulled off from the project.
"Many sent cheques and liquid money. The people's support encouraged me immensely,” she said, thanking the people who gave lands for the project and seeking cooperation from them to complete the giant task.
During her speech, the Prime Minister quoted a line from Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who said once none would be able to suppress the Bengalis who never bow to anyone.
"We are such a nation of heroes. It has been proved again today," The daughter of Bangabandhu said.
She said life-style of the people would be improved after the completion of the bridge, which will connect 21 southern districts with the capital.
"More employment will be created as industrial belts would spring up. We will be able to upgrade the area hugely," she said.
She said WB abruptly brought allegation without any reason and an investigation by the Anti Corruption Commission found no evidence to prove the World Bank's accusations.
"I asked them to provide documents as the loan was yet to be released. They still do not have documents to establish the allegations," she said.
Referring to a hearing in connection with a case in Canada, the Prime Minister said Canadian court also asked the WB to provide documents.
Without mentioning the name of former Grameen Bank managing director, the Prime Minister said the allegations were nothing but a conspiracy that was plotted by a noted Bangladeshi national.
"A noted individual has been illegally holding the post of the MD of a baqnk for 11 years. As the Bangladesh Bank directed him to resign from the post, that man moved to the court and lost," she said, adding that "e-mails were sent to high-ups of the United States of America to take steps against the government. As a result, the then WB chief abruptly cancelled the loan."
"I have not committed any sort of corruption nor any of my family members," she said.
Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Ltd will carry out the river training part of the project at a cost of nearly Tk 87.08 billion.
The government hopes to open the bridge, equipped with a railroad as well, within the next three years.
The pilling work of the bridge's seventh out of the 42 pillars started right after the event ended.
The project was originally initiated in 1998 when the Awami League was in power, but it went into uncertainty when the party lost the general election in 2001.
When the party returned to power in 2009, it revived the initiative.
