Home ›› 26 Jun 2022 ›› Front
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircrafts showcased a spectacular fly-past over the Padma Bridge on Saturday, marking its long-awaited inauguration.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina enjoyed the beautiful show put on by BAF from the bridge after the inauguration. Her motorcade was crossing the river when she got down on the bridge from her car as the fly-past began.
Her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, former communication minister Abul Hossain, former bridges secretary Mosharraf Hossain and other dignitaries were with her.
The aerobatics demonstration in the sky of Mawa-Zajira started around 12:12pm and lasted for around 14 minutes.
A total of 28 aircrafts, including warplanes, transport planes and helicopters, led by Air Forces Group Captain Moniruzzaman Hawladar participated in the fly-past, according to a media statement from Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).
In this fly-past, MiG-29 and F-7 series warplanes, C-130J and L-410 transport aircraft, and Grob-120TP training aircraft flew in various formations and emitted colorful smokes while passing through.
Five 5 MI-17 helicopters were seen carrying the national flag and banners with photos of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina and Padma Bridge and the “Joy Bangla” slogan.
Leaflets were distributed to guests attending the event from a Bell-212 helicopter. The fly-past ended with a captivating aerobatic display by seven K-8Ws and a MiG-29, read the ISPR statement.
Earlier in the day, Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, flew in by a helicopter from Dhaka and arrived at the bridge’s opening ceremony at the Mawa point at around 10am.
Her motorcade rolled onto the main bridge structure at around noon after a special prayer led by the cabinet secretary was offered at the inauguration site.
First to pay toll
At that time, the prime minister also became the first person to cross the Padma Bridge by paying the toll for her motorcade at the Mawa end on way to the Zajira end.
Before getting onto the bridge, she paid a combined toll of Tk 16,400, toll collector Tania Afrin told reporters. The total amount included Tk 750 for her car and the rest for the 17 other cars of the motorcade.
“The prime minister wanted to know my name and asked how I felt while collecting the first ever toll for the Padma Bridge. It was like a dream. I am so happy,” Tania added.
Previously, on June 17, the authorities conducted a test run for the bridge’s toll plaza by letting some public cars cross it at the Mawa end.
The test run continued for seven days as the authorities rehearsed and perfected the process of taking tolls and issuing slips.
Although the bridge was inaugurated on Saturday, it will be opened to traffic from 6am Sunday.
The much-awaited 6.15 kilometres bridge has been implemented at a cost of Tk 30,193.39 crore with local funding. It will connect the country’s 21 south and south-western districts with other regions through roads and railways.
