One million to join Padma Bridge opening rally today
All preparations have been completed as the much-anticipated 6.15 kilometer Padma Bridge will be opened for vehicular movement today.
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally open the Padma Bridge by
unveiling the inaugural plaque at the Mawa point in the morning.
Awami League will arrange a public rally marking the opening of the bridge at
Kathalbari under Shibchar upazila in Madaripur at 12 noon. The Premier will
join and address the rally.
Madaripur deputy commissioner said they have taken all-out preparations as
around 10 lakh people will join the mammoth rally.
The venue located on the bank of river Padma has been decorated gorgeously by
making a symbolic makeshift Padma Bridge having 10 spans on 11 pillars.
Before the symbolic bridge, opening stage has been set up. The makeshift
bridge is 200 feet long and 8 feet wide. The stage is 15 feet long and 40
feet wide.
A 60-feet long gigantic boat floats on water in front of the stage. Several
small boats are also there. The venue has been prepared on around 15 acres of
land.
Stringent security measures have also been taken to avert any untoward
incident. Six watch towers have been set up on the premises of the stage.
More than 150 CCTV cameras have been set up there. Members of Army, several units of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police,
and SSF members are working at the venue.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud
Chowdhury, Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem,
former Awami League Presidium Members – Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak
and Abdur Rahman and Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam and Inspector General of
Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed today visited the venue at Kathalbari.
Talking to journalists, the home minister said stringent security measures
have been taken to avert any untoward situation.
Mirza Azam will be the coordinate of the rally. He expressed hope that this
rally would be the 2nd largest rally in the country’s history following
historic March 7, 1971 rally.
Full-proof security measures have been taken as check-posts have been set up
at all points and intersections on the way to the venue, Dr Benazir Ahmed
said, adding modern watch towers have been set up to keep surveillance.
As preparations have been taken to host a mammoth public gathering, 500
temporary toilets, 22 toilets for VIP, pure drinking water, a 20-bed and two
10-bed mobile hospitals and medical centers have been ensured. There will be
ambulance facilities too.
The entire Madaipur district wore a festive look as colorful banners have
been hanged on the streets and roads.
The programme will include colorful cultural function, fireworks and laser
show. Sweets will also be distributed among people.
Awami League Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the event will be a
historic one as around one million people will attend it.
He hoped Bangladesh will march further ahead with the inauguration of the
country’s biggest self-financed project Padma Bridge.
The much-awaited Padma Bridge will be inaugurated today but vehicles will
be allowed to ply on the bridge from 6am on the next day (Sunday).
The bridge will bring a massive progress in road connectivity of 21 south and
southwestern districts with capital Dhaka and other major cities.
Marking the grand opening of the bridge, a festive mood is prevailing in the
country, particularly in the southern and southwestern region which will be
directly facilitated through the major road connectivity.
As per the Premier’s programme schedule, the Prime Minister will unveil
commemorative postage stamps, souvenir sheets, opening day cover and seals at
11am at Mawa point to mark the grand opening of the country’s biggest self-
financed mega project which is likely to boost GDP by 1.2 to 2 percent.
Prior to that, she will leave Tejgaon Airport, Dhaka at 9:30am by a
helicopter to join the programme at Mawa point.
The Prime Minister will formally open the Padma Bridge by unveiling the
inaugural plaque and mural-1 after paying toll at the Mawa point at 11:12am.
She will also join a munajat to be offered there.
She will begin her journey for Jajira point in Shariatpur from Mawa point by
road crossing the bridge at 11.23am.
The premier will reach Jajira point at 11:45am and unveil the inaugural
plaque of the bridge and mural-2. She will also join a munajat there.
Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League president, will join a public rally of the
party marking the opening of the bridge at Kathalbari under Shibchar upazila
in Madaripur district at 12 noon.
Padma Bridge became visible with the installation of the first span on 37th
and 38th number pillars on September 30, 2017.
Later, all 41 spans were installed on 42 pillars one after another. The
entire structure of the multi-purpose 6.15 kilometer Padma Bridge became
visible with installation of its last 41st span on December 10, 2020.
The self-financed bridge project was implemented at the total cost of Taka
30,1933.7 crore.
The cost of main bridge construction is Taka 12,133.39 crore (including Taka
1000 crore for 400 KV transmission line tower and gas line) and the cost of
river training works (RTW) of 13.8km is Taka 9,4000.0 crore.
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