Grand opening of Padma Bridge tomorrow

All preparations are afoot for the grand inauguration of the much-awaited Padma Bridge tomorrow.

Both the government and ruling party Awami League have taken all-out preparations to celebrate the day at both ends of the bridge as well as in all districts across the country.

The celebration is expected to be the biggest one the country has ever witnessed.

The construction company of the main bridge China Major Bridge Engineering Co Ltd has already handed over the bridge to the Bridge Division, Executive Engineer of Padma Bridge project Dewan Md Abdul Kader told reporters yesterday.

He said, “However, there can be minor works. For the next one year, they will do them during the Defect Liability Period.”

The ruling party has planned to gather 10, 00000 people at Kathalbari of Shibchar in Madaripur district where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a rally participated by her party men, supporters and common people coming from 21 southwestern parts.

The party has instructed leaders of those districts to facilitate people’s participation in the rally. A delegation from the central committee has already visited the districts to oversee the preparation.

In the morning PM will inaugurate the bridge around 10am at a programme to be organized by the government at Mawa point.

Then she will attend a gathering of more than 3500 distinguished guests including foreign diplomats, business leaders, leaders of professional bodies, senior government officials, different political party leaders and civil society members invited to the event.

All participants at the opening ceremony will need to be tested negative for Covid-19 to attend the programme.

The premier then will cross the bridge with a motorcade. At Jazira point she will unveil a foundation plaque.

She will also unveil two murals – one for the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the other of herself - on both sides of the bridge.

Invitations have been sent to top seven BNP leaders as well to attend the opening ceremony but BNP turned down the invitation because of an earlier alleged threat on the life of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent cards and email to diplomats as well as development partners to join the inauguration.

The Economic Relations Division has sent invitation to World Bank that had cancelled loam scheme for the bridge compelling the government to build it with its own domestic fund.

Md Rupam Anwar, Director (Admin) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority, said they had not sent separate invitation to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. But they sent invitation to Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday.

They are sending more than 3, 500 invitations to distinguished guests including diplomats, freedom fighters, political leaders, judges of Supreme Court and journalists.

Local and foreign engineers and technicians involved with the Padma Bridge project will also be invited.

Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said the inauguration event would be celebrated in 64 districts simultaneously. The government has taken preparation to hold different programmes across the country.

The Dhaka district administration will hold a laser show in the capital’s Hatirjheel.

For the celebration of the programme at Kathalbari of Shibchar a Padma Bridge-shaped stage was built on the bank of the river.

The Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will deliver her speech from there.

Our correspondent reports that workers were passing busy time to set up the stage on a replica on the bridge that has ten spans on eleven pillars. Just in front of the stage there is a huge boat floating on water.

The preparation has been made on 15 acres of land to accommodate 10 lakh expected participants. The stage is 150 feet in length and 40 feet wide.

There are six watch towers inside the stage area and outside it. More than 150 CCTV cameras have been installed there to oversee security situation.

The organizers have set up 500 toilets, water line to supply drinking water and three mobile hospitals. There will be fancy lighting stretching three kilometers of area for beautification.

There will be separate sitting arrangements for women, 26 LED monitors for better view and 500 loudspeakers. Besides, 20 pontoons have been set up for the vessels that would carry people to the rally from different areas.

Dr Rahima Khatun, Deputy Commissioner of Madaripur, said they had made all necessary arrangements. Some minor works are left to be done by Friday.

“All hotels have already been booked. The main crowd will be in the district on the morning of the rally day,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry on June 20 at a special meeting planned a foolproof security measures centering the inaugural ceremony.

There will be a tight security during the movement and stay of the PM, her cabinet members, politicians and diplomats in the bridge area.

A huge contingent of law enforcers have been deployed at the venue who will work in a coordinated way while intelligence activities have been beefed up.

No trucks and goods-laden vehicles will be allowed on all connecting roads leading to the bridge while the security personnel will monitor water vessels.

There will be rescue teams of river police and fire service. Emergency services like ambulances and doctors will be deployed in both the gathering areas.

According to project details, the construction work of the bridge began in December 2015 with the government’s own fund after World Bank and other development partners cancelled loan scheme over corruption allegations which were later proven false.

The estimated cost for the construction of the bridge is Tk30, 193 crore. The first span of the Padma Bridge was installed at the Janjira point of Shariatpur on 07 October 2017.

This was followed by the installation of the second span on 28 January 2018. The third span was installed on 11 March 2018. The fourth and fifth spans of the bridge were installed on 13 May and 29 June respectively.

After the inauguration of it Padma Bridge will be ready for vehicles to move along from 26 June.