The landmark Padma Bridge is a symbol of Bangladesh’s pride, capability, and dignity, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on June 25 as she inaugurated the country’s longest bridge, which was entirely funded by domestic sources. The 6.15-kilometer-long road-rail four-lane bridge connects southwestern Bangladesh with the capital and other parts of the country.
Structure was built entirely with domestic financing
The multipurpose road-rail bridge, which is fully funded by the Bangladesh government, cost USD 3.6 billion to build. The Padma bridge’s inauguration is significant because the structure was built entirely with domestic financing, defying some financial analysts’ doubts that Bangladesh, which will only graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026, could mobilise the fund solely through domestic resources.
Hasina expressed deep gratitude to the people involved with the construction of the Padma bridge. “I have no complaints against anyone, but I believe those who opposed the Padma Bridge construction plan and called it a ‘pipe dream’, lack self-confidence. I hope this bridge will boost their confidence,” the prime minister said.
Symbol of our capacity, our strength and our dignity
“This bridge is not just bricks, cement, iron, and concrete this bridge is our pride, a symbol of our capacity, our strength and our dignity. This bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh,” she said. The bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh. It encapsulates our passion, creativity, courage, endurance and perseverance, she said.
She said the much-cherished bridge stands on the turbulent Padma River overcoming many obstacles and breaking the web of conspiracy. The Padma Bridge project witnessed several engineering wonders as well as technological challenges. It emerged as the wonder structure for Bangladesh and saw the use of state-of-the-art machinery and know-how. The project was initially expected to be funded by a consortium led by the World Bank.
Meanwhile, India has congratulated the Bangladesh government on the completion of the massive project.
Play an important role in fostering greater bilateral and subregional connectivity
The Padma Bridge would not only help improve intra-Bangladesh connectivity, but it will also provide much-needed impetus to logistics and businesses connecting India and our shared subregion, it said, adding the bridge will play an important role in fostering greater bilateral and subregional connectivity.
Padma Bridge will be included engineering textbooks all over the world
She stated that the bridge’s piles were laid to a maximum depth of 122 metres, and that sophisticated earthquake prevention technology was used. Because of some of the more unique features, the construction of this bridge will undoubtedly be included in engineering textbooks all over the world.
The prime minister said the engineers of Bangladesh have gained experience in implementing big projects from this huge work. In the future, we will be able to build such complex bridges or infrastructure ourselves, she further said.
