Prime minister opens nine bridges, hopes infrastructure upgrade will help people prosper

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government is emphasising upgrading Bangladesh’s infrastructure to quicken the pace of progress on social and economic fronts.

She inaugurated nine bridges at various districts through videoconferencing from Ganabhaban on Thursday.

Hasina also spoke to local officials and public representatives during the inauguration.

“We’re building up a communication network across Bangladesh so that the people can travel with ease,” she said.

The prime minister said better communication network would increase economic activities and enhance chances of getting education.

That’s why, she said, the government was working to improve roads, railways, waterways as well as airports.

“My goal is to build a poverty-free Bangladesh... My aim is to change the fate of the people of Bangladesh whom my father used to care about a lot,” she said.

Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family was assassinated barely four years after independence.

Of the nine bridges inaugurated on Wednesday, six are major bridges and three are small.

They are Chandarpur-Sunampur Bridge over the Kushiara River on Golapganj-Bianibazar Road in Sylhet, Achmat Ali Khan Bridge on Madaripur-Shariatpur-Chandpur Highway in Madaripur, Sheikh Russell Bridge on Patuakhali-Kuakata Highway, Batakhali Bridge on Chakoria-Badarkhali-Maheshkhali road in Cox's Bazar, Abduz Zahur Bridge over the Surma River in Sunamganj and Barohdaha Bridge over the Karatoa River on Gaibandha-Nakaihat-Gobindaganj road in Gaibandha.

The rest are Tekerhat, Chumchar, Angaria bridges in Madaripur.

Hasina criticised the BNP-led 2001-06 government for suspending several development projects undertaken by her government in 1996.

The Awami League-led government resumed construction works of 48 such bridges after returning to power in 2009.

Hasina said several of the bridges had been completed.

“We’re trying our best,” she said.

“We want to turn Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country so that the Bengali nation can hold its head high.”