"The bridge is not merely a structure of steel,

cement and concrete--it is a symbol of the

country's

Bangladesh steps into a new era of development as a communications mega-infrastructure, the Padma
Multipurpose Bridge, becomes a reality undeterred by multiple headwinds.

The defining moment was ushered in when a visibly jubilant Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the
longest bridge in the country, and a unique one in the world, by paying toll herself for the maiden drive
across it at 11.48 am on amid countrywide festivities and celebrations.

With this, a long-cherished dream of some 30 million people in 21 districts in the southwestern part of
the country came true and ended ages of agonies and frequent tragedies associated with crossing the
world's second-most turbulent river by ferries.

The inauguration of the 6.15-km bridge, which connects the southwestern part of the country with the
capital through Munshiganj, Shariatpur and Madaripur, ends seven-year-long herculean task carried out
by a 5000-strong workforce with the spending of 3.1 billion US dollars.

"The bridge is not merely a structure of steel, cement and concrete--it is a symbol of the country's
capability, pride and dignity. The 42 spans of the bridge are the reflections of an audacious Bangladesh,"
an emotion-choked Hasina told the citizen gathering held at the Mawa end of the bridge prior to
heading towards her dream bridge.

The Prime Minister has already been acclaimed at home and abroad for her 'bold and courageous'
decision to implement the project with domestic funds despite opposition from many.
After opening a mural titled 'father and daughter', portraying the faces of her father Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and herself, the Prime Minister started crossing the bridge in a motorcade at
12:07 pm.

Flanked by her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Hasina took a 15-minute break in the middle of the
bridge to enjoy a spectacular flypast conducted by a fleet of 31 jets and helicopters of Bangladesh Air
Force.

Top rung of her government and party, and chiefs of army, navy and air force also joined her in the on-
bridge ceremony. Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, diplomats,
secretaries and political leaders followed her on 13 buses.

She reached the Jajira point of the bridge at 12.34 pm and then joined a huge joy rally organised by her
party.

Earlier, addressing the inaugural function at Mawa point, the Prime Minister said that the bridge
signifies the emotion, resilience, endurance and creativity of Bangladesh.

Hasina said the bridge project was completed through demolishing a web of ''conspiracies''.

"It is a symbol of our pride and self-esteem.. our emotion, courage and vision that we will do the Padma
Bridge and will certainly be able to do," she told the gathering of the dignitaries comprising top officials
of the government, party and diplomats and other professionals.

She said the bridge again proved Bangabandhu's words that 'no one can suppress' the Bengalis as they
made the bridge building happen.

Narrating the background ballad of the biggest infrastructure project of the country, the prime minister
said that her government did not back out from its implementation when the World Bank withdrew its
funding for the project.

She said that it was the strength of the people of her country from where she got the encouragement to
implement the project with own funding.
The Prime Minister thanked the local people who sacrificed their land and ancestral homes for the
project.

Referring to the 'conspirators' she said that she has no complaint against them. ''Let good sense prevail
upon them and I hope they will be responsible to the wellbeing of the people.''

She mentioned that due to the false allegations and accusations of corruption by the World Bank her
family members and senior officials faced embarrassment and top officials related to the project faced
humiliation.

"A person who was a Managing Director of a bank was asked to quit as his age did not permit him to
hold the post," she told her audience.

"He was offered the post of Adviser Emeritus but he felt offended and then the World Bank withdrew
the funding," Hasina said in an oblique reference to the then Grameen Bank Managing Director, Dr
Yunus.

The Prime Minister noted that the highest standard was maintained in constructing the bridge and no
compromise was made in maintaining the quality.

An emotion-choked Sheikh Hasina said that she could not have completed the mammoth task sans
blessings of her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mother Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib.

"I always feel the hands of their blessings on my head,'' she added.

The Prime Minister said though it was estimated that the Padma Bridge would contribute 1.2 per cent to
the GDP growth of the country, she felt that it would be much higher.

She mentioned that her government has been able to keep the growth momentum on track braving the
onslaught of corona pandemic and the Ukraine war.

The Prime Minister also talked about her government's various ongoing infrastructure projects and
visions and said the goal to be developed country by 2041 is achievable as well as SDG goals.
After her speech she released a commemorative postage stamp and a 100-taa banknote.

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge project was first approved by the ECNEC in 2007, which was revised
with the increase in the length to 6.15 kms from 5.8 kms. It was then proposed to build the bridge in
two-tier options keeping road on top and rail below in 2011.

The PMB project reached the current stage after two more revisions till 2021, escalating the cost to Tk
301.93 billion.

The CMBE built the steel-truss composite bridge against its financial proposal of Tk 121.33 billion and
Sinohydro Corporation Limited the river-training work at Tk 87.07 billion which is yet to complete.

Abdul Monem Ltd-Hygenic Corporation of Malaysia did the work on Mawa and Janjira approach roads
along with service-area development.

However, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge has been ready when the project's panel of experts'
chairman, Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, and two other PoE members-- Alamgir Mojibul Hoque and Dr
AMM Shafiullah-- left the world.

The Padma Bridge is now recognized for its huge volume of works making four new world records, three
first time in bridge construction in the world and seven for the first in Bangladesh.