‘A symbol of nation's pride and ability’: PM Hasina opens Padma Bridge amid festivity

The Padma Bridge is not a pile of brick and cement but a symbol of Bangladesh’s pride, honour and ability, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday, as she celebrated the completion of the government-funded project.

“The bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh. It encapsulates our passion, creativity, courage, endurance and perseverance,” she said during the inauguration of the long-awaited Padma Bridge, the longest in Bangladesh.

The construction of the bridge had been set back by various plots and conspiracies, but eventually, all hurdles were surmounted, the prime minister said.

But the bridge would not be standing tall without the courage and support of the people, according to Hasina.

Looking back on the arduous road to the realisation of a 'dream', Hasina noted the World Bank was supposed to finance part of the construction of the Padma Bridge. But the project was thrown into uncertainty when the global lender pulled out in 2012 after raising complaints of corruption over the appointment of consultants for the bridge.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission investigated the allegations and found that no corruption had taken place," said Hasina. "But when a Canadian court in its verdict said there was no corruption, everyone fell silent.”

After the World Bank withdrew its support as a lender, Hasina famously announced that the bridge would be constructed with Bangladesh’s own funds. “After this announcement, the ordinary people stood by us. We went ahead with the strength they gave us."

She thanked people on both banks of the mighty river who gave up their land and homes to facilitate the construction of the bridge.

"Some people said we would always be beholden to others but the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also stressed the importance of self-respect. Many people made contributions with whatever means they had -- the bridge was financed by the people after all."

Hasina also thanked the late Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury, who led the panel of experts for the project, along with the various international organisations for remaining headstrong in the face of multiple challenges.

The Awami League chief noted the project was stopped in its tracks after the BNP-Jamaat alliance formed a government in 2001.

After sweeping the 2008 general election, the Awami League government set about pursuing the construction of the bridge as a top priority.

The prime minister emphasised that no compromises were made in terms of the quality and standards of construction.

After the Amazon River, the Padma is the most “treacherous and unpredictable” river in the world. But the bridge was built using the best technology, with steel piles going 122 metres deep into the river bed.

Once the bridge opens to traffic on Sunday, it will establish direct connectivity between Dhaka and 21 disadvantaged southwestern regions of the country by road and rail.

This will end the long-standing sufferings of the people of the region on the one hand, and accelerate the economy on the other. Their businesses will expand and their standards of living will improve. The bridge is expected to boost economic growth by 1.23 percentage points.

The prime minister offered her sympathies to her family members and Economic Affairs Adviser Moshiur Rahman, former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and Communications Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan who suffered “extreme mental agonies because of the conspiracies orchestrated by certain quarters” at the planning stage of the mega project.

Hasina also addressed the various concerns raised about the fate of the economy in light of the decision to build the bridge with the country's own resources.

“On this day of joy, there is no hatred, no animosity towards anyone. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people of the country. Those who said it would not be possible, I have nothing against them. Many predicted that the economy would collapse if the bridge was built with our own funds," she said.

“Today, the Padma Bridge has been built. Bangladesh's economy has not collapsed. We have faced the coronavirus pandemic and after that, the war in Ukraine, but the economy is still moving forward. To the people of Bangladesh, I salute you."

CELEBRATING A MILESTONE

The prime minister arrived at the inauguration stage by helicopter at 10 am.

She was joined on stage by Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Alam, Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project Director Shafiqul Alam.

Nearly 3,000 invited guests, including foreign diplomats, ministers and senior Awami League leaders joined Hasina in celebrating the inauguration of the bridge. Among the guests were Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, World Bank Country Director Mercy Tembon, Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, and Gonoshasthaya Kendra Trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury.

In an address to the nation, she said, "Let us take an oath to work for the welfare of the country and its people on this historic day. We will build a prosperous Bangladesh that the Father of the Nation had dreamt of by changing the destiny of the people of this country."

She later unveiled a commemorative postage stamp, commemorative banknote and souvenir sheet to mark the occasion.

PM PAYS FIRST TOLL

After the inaugural speech, the prime minister headed towards the toll plaza in Mawa with her convoy.

But before ascending the bridge, she paid a toll of Tk 750, according to Tania Afrin, who was in charge of the plaza.

Hasina also paid for the other vehicles in her convoy. "In total, she paid Tk 16,400," said Tania.

The prime minister was also pleased to see a woman at the tollbooth. "She wanted to know my name and asked how I felt. Seeing the prime minister was a dream come true."

Two decades after laying the foundation stone of the bridge, the prime minister marked a landmark achievement for Bangladesh by unveiling the inaugural plaque and Mural-1 at the toll plaza at Mawa as a barrage of colours filled the air.

SELFIES BY THE BRIDGE OF DREAMS

After inaugurating the Mawa point of the bridge, the prime minister walked down a red carpet and took part in a photo session. Her daughter, Saima Wazed, was by her side.

The two then shared a candid moment as Saima, going outside protocol, took out her mobile phone and grabbed a selfie with her mother.

Hasina was all smiles as she turned her phone towards the bridge before calling Saima over to join a video call. However, it was not clear who was at the other end of the call.

Afterwards, the prime minister and her convoy set off for a ride across the bridge.

On the way to the Zajira end, the convoy made a brief stop as the prime minister got off her car and stood on the bridge. As she soaked up the view, helicopters of the air force flew overhead with the national flag, while aircraft performed aerobatics on the horizon.

Hasina later unveiled another plaque at the Zajira end to cap the inauguration ceremony.

PRAISE POURS IN

“The World Bank is the biggest development partner of Bangladesh and we recognise the importance of this bridge,” Tembon said on Saturday.

The bridge will create jobs, reduce travel time, increase the welfare of people, get produce from farm to market quickly and cut poverty, she said. “We are happy that the bridge is complete and we are happy that Bangladesh will benefit from this bridge. And, as a longstanding partner of Bangladesh, we stand with Bangladesh in this.”

The bridge is a 'very important' structure for South Asia and will enhance the connectivity within Bangladesh and in the region, according to Doraiswami.

"It's a historic day and I wish the people of Bangladesh the best."

The Bangladesh government has ‘successfully’ completed the project after facing different ‘obstacles', said Doraiswami.

“I’m looking forward to seeing an increase in regional trade and easy connectivity between India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan,” he said.

Bangladesh and India will cooperate and move towards the development of the countries in the future, he added.

Dr Zafrullah said it was an honour to have taken part in the 1971 Liberation War and still be here to see the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.

“I have seen a lot of history with my own eyes. I had the privilege of serving in the Liberation War. Today I have the chance to take part in these celebrations.”

He thanked Hasina for turning down calls to name the bridge ‘Hasina Bridge’ to commemorate her achievement.

“The prime minister has done a great thing. She has proven her tremendous wisdom. She is as wise today as her father was on Mar 7.”

For the second segment, Hasina and her entourage travelled to the Zajira end of the bridge. She joined a rally organised by the Awami League at Madaripur’s Kathalbari.

President Abdul Hamid issued a separate message congratulating Bangladeshis to mark the occasion.

Both sides of the bridge and surrounding areas and roads were decorated with colourful festoons and banners highlighting Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Hasina ahead of the inauguration.

PROVING DOUBTERS WRONG

In her speech, Hasina once again called out the World Bank for pulling out of the project citing allegations of bribery and corruption, which were never proven.

The World Bank was supposed to finance part of the construction of the Padma Bridge. A decade ago, Bangladesh finalised a $1.2 billion loan contract for the project at an initial estimated cost of $2.9 billion. But the Washington-based agency suspended its loan after raising complaints of corruption over the appointment of consultants for the bridge.

Uncertainty loomed over the bridge after the World Bank walked out on the project in 2012. Later, the Bangladesh government, which repeatedly denied the allegations, went ahead with its self-funded plan for the bridge.

Hasina believes the 6.15-km bridge is a testament to Bangladesh's capability to thrive and provides a 'suitable response' to those who tried to undermine the project.

"We have given them a suitable answer [through the Padma Bridge] and shown that Bangladesh can do it too.”

“People [in the southwest] will not have to suffer anymore. No one has to lose their children, parents or siblings while crossing the fast-flowing Padma. We have now ensured they can get across without any hindrance."

Hasina also ripped into her BNP counterpart Khaleda Zia for derailing the project and later casting doubt on the Awami League government's ability to complete the megastructure.

"After we laid the foundation stone of the Padma Bridge in 2001, Khaleda Zia came to power and shut everything down. We restarted the work in 2009 after returning to power. They then said the Awami League will never be able to build the Padma Bridge. Today, I ask Khaleda Zia to come and see if the Padma Bridge has been built.”

The prime minister did not hold back in her criticism of Grameen Bank founder Dr Muhammad Yunus either as she brushed aside claims of irregularities in the project. The government has repeatedly rebuked the Nobel laureate for actively working to cut off funding from the World Bank by drumming up allegations of corruption.

“Who would engage in corruption? This is the bridge of our hearts. Why would there be any corruption in the construction of a bridge on which the people's fate hangs? ”

“We are building economic zones all over the country. Now that the Padma Bridge has been established, we will have more special economic zones, industrial zones, factories and employment. We will be able to process crops and fish for export. It will put an end to our sorrows and change our fortunes.”

Hasina said she and the members of her family, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima and nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq, suffered "agonies" for her plan on the bridge, but she never backed off from her commitment to complete the project with Bangladesh's own funds. 

"We had only one goal: to build the bridge and change the fate of the people of the south. We've done it with the courage and strength you've given us. I'll always stand by your side."

"I lost my parents and brothers, but I've got you...I will sacrifice my life for you if necessary."