Economy of southern districts to shine: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the economic fates of people living in the southern districts would change with the opening of the Padma Bridge.

She said there would be lots of economic activities, like setting up new industries, in the region to bring about prosperity.

“The sufferings of the people of Bangladesh will be removed, and their fates will change. At least the economic fates of the people in the 21 southern districts will change. We will do everything needed for that,” she told a mammoth public meeting at Kathalbari in Shibchar upazila under Madaripur district after inaugurating the bridge.

“We have built the Padma Bridge in the region. Transport would be easier from the southern part of the country. Economic zones will also be established here. Employment will be generated. New mills and factories will be established in the region,” she added.

Hasina said the locals would be able to process agro products and fish produced in the region and transport those across the country.

From now on, people would be able to supply local fish across the country and also export those, she said.

“The ones who gave their land for the Padma Bridge, we have given land to all of them as well as built homes and arranged livelihoods for them. We have built homes for the people on both sides of the bridge.”

Basking in the success of bridging the mighty Padma River with the country’s longest bridge, the prime minister said it had been an appropriate reply to conspirators.

“Through the construction of the Padma Bridge with our own funds, we have been able to give a befitting reply to those who tried to obstruct it,” she said.

The prime minister arrived at the meeting shortly after opening the 6.15-kilometre bridge during a colourful ceremony at its northern Mawa end.

She paid Tk 16,400 in tolls before her car drove through the dream bridge.

She stopped midway for moments to witness the beauty of the river’s choppy water.

The public meeting, organised by the Awami League, to mark the inauguration of the bridge turned into a human sea with hundreds of thousands of jubilant people thronging from all sides.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, once again vowed that she was ready to make any sacrifice for the development of the country and the welfare of the people.

“I am always ready to make any sacrifice to establish your rights and to change your destiny. I have promised it before you. If needed, I will sacrifice my own life for you,” she told the crowd amid thunderous clapping and chants of “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu”.

The premier said she would work to ensure a better living standard for the next generations.

Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had achieved independence for the people of Bangladesh, she said her government would build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous Sonar Bangla.

“I will ensure that the children of our country will get more improved lives. It is my promise to you,” she added.

The prime minister reached the rally venue around 12:50pm after opening the double-deck road and rail bridge by unveiling the plaque and murals at both Mawa and Zajira ends.

The jubilant crowd greeted her by chanting full-throated slogans like “Sheikh Hasina Egiye Chalo, Amra Achhi Tomar Sathe (Go forward Sheikh Hasina, we are with you)”.

Before her arrival at the rally, several helicopters showered colourful and glittered papers from the sky over the venue as people burst into joy.

People from all walks of life as well as leaders and activists of the Awami League and its associate bodies had been gathering at the rally venue since early morning.

The gathering wore a festive look when people from different parts of the country, especially from the southern districts, started thronging the venue of the rally with colourful banners, festoons, and Awami League’s election symbol “boat” since morning.

Men wearing colourful T-shirts and women sporting colourful saris, carrying large portraits of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina, placards, festoons, and banners came to the rally.

The venue and its adjacent areas were decorated with colourful festoons, placards, and digital banners. Large screens were installed at different corners of the rally to broadcast the rally proceedings.

The stage was large and spectacular, made after the design of the Padma Bridge. In front of the stage was a huge boat floating on the water, adding colour to the rally.

Before addressing the gathering, Hasina formally inaugurated the much-awaited bridge from its Mawa point in Munshiganj.

The premier’s motorcade stepped into the main bridge at noon, and a munajat led by the cabinet secretary was offered at the inauguration site.

The prime minister also became the first person to cross the bridge, soon after opening it for traffic, by paying tolls.

On June 17, the authorities concerned conducted a test run for the toll plaza as some public cars crossed it at the Mawa end.

The test run continued for seven days, and the authorities rehearsed taking tolls and issuing slips during this period.

Although the bridge was inaugurated on Saturday, it will be opened to traffic at 6am today.