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This story is from June 25, 2022

PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates Swapner Padma Setu in Bangladesh, first bridge across the river

PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates Swapner Padma Setu in Bangladesh, first bridge across the river
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated Bangladesh’s dream project (Swapner Padma Setu), the first bridge across the mighty Padma river on Saturday – the country’s biggest development achievement since its birth in 1971, that is expected to revolutionize the nation’s development index, redraw south east Asian region’s economic map and connect India directly to Dhaka, through road, rail and the ports.
The bridge is expected to immediately impact lives of at least 30 million people directly in this country, according to estimates here.
With the completion of the 6.15 km long Padma road and rail bridge, Hasina built many bridges on Saturday. She built bridges with her own people by connecting 21 districts in the south west part of the country to Dhaka, by connecting a proud nation which built its first mega project with its own funds, to the task of elevating itself to a “developed nation” by 2041, when Bangladesh turns 70. Hasina announced the 2041 deadline on Saturday, during her passionate address to the nation when she inaugurated her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s dream project that he planned for in 1973.
As Bangladesh celebrated its dream project turn into reality on Saturday, of connecting people within the country and with the world beyond its borders, Hasina fired the emotions of a euphoric nation that is looking at a real road to prosperity with her passionate address to the nation saying “we have proved to the world that we can. That, as proud Bengalis we have built our own bridge, beaten all odds to turn into a developing nation in our 50th year and we will become a developed nation in 2041.”
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(ANI photo)

With the Padma Bridge, Hasina also built bridges with her surrounding nations – India, Nepal, China, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, by establishing the Padma Bridge as a major link for the Trans Asian Highway Network (TAHN). Of its 16 road routes, three run through Bangladesh while the rail link will connect another two routes.
From the Indian border at Benapole, the distance to Dhaka by road has been reduced by 70 kms and 4.30 hours, that could turn it into the busiest trade route in the region benefitting both countries, in boosting their respective economies. Apart from connecting India directly to Dhaka, the bridge now connects the entire region by linking Kolkata on the Indian side and Mongla and Chittagong ports in Bangladesh to the three hub ports in the region in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia, to boost economic activity manifold.

Encouraged by the success of the Padma bridge, Japan has offered to fully fund a second bridge across the vast river, last week, according sources in Dhaka.
Referring to World Bank pulling out of the project over corruption charges and Bangladesh deciding to take up and complete the project with its own funds,
Hasina recalled her her father’s famous lines to inspire the people during the war of Independence against Pakistan. “Bangabandhu had said ‘Aamader keyu dabaye rakhtey parbey na’ (nobody can prevail over us). We proved it. We will never bow our head as Mujib taught us. We build this bridge with our own money. Not only Bangladesh but regional connectivity will improve. The Bridge is our Pride, our identity, our emotion, our bravery and the people will benefit from it. Joy Bangla,” she said.
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