Announcing this yesterday, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda said the technical committee of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recommended the site as the most favourable one for the proposed bridge on the Padma.

Speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a workshop on "Interim Report of the Feasibility Study on Padma Bridge," Huda also said another bridge on the river will be constructed at Paturia-Goalundo point.

In September last year, the JICA study team in its first phase of progress report mentioned Mawa-Janjira and Patura-Goalundo as two prospective sites. Then the team's feasibility study from October last year to February this year found the Mawa-Janjira point as the best site.

Leader of the JICA team M Shibuya said the Mawa-Janjira point has been recommended on the basis of the economic feasibility of the proposed bridge including the costs for social and resettlement issues and effects on the GRDP (gross regional domestic product) growth.

The study put the estimated cost of the bridge at US$ 1,074 million at Mawa-Janjira and $ 1,260 million at Patura-Goalundo point. The length of the bridge will be 6.2 km at Mawa-Janjira and 6.5 km at Patura-Goalundo, Shibuya said.

The study will continue and another progress report will be prepared in September this year. The report will contain preliminary design of the bridge at Mawa-Janjira and provisions for approach roads, river training works and toll facilities, he mentioned.

The team will give its final report in February next year, he said.

The 6.2-km-long Padma Bridge will be the longest in the country and the 4.8-km- long Jamuna bridge the second longest one.

Replying to a query, Quamrul Islam Siddiqui, executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB), said the study did not take up the issue of railway on the Padma bridge. But it could be included in the study afterwards.

The communications minister hoped the Japanese government would provide assistance for construction of the bridge as in the cases of Meghna-Goumti, Pakshey and Rupsha bridges.

Japanese Ambassador Matsushiro Horiguchi thought Bangladesh would mobilise funds for the bridge from levies imposed by the government.

The minister then noted the days of levies are over. Now there are several other internal sources for mobilising funds, he said, adding the government is seeking assistance from Japan, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.

The JICA organised the workshop. Speakers at the inaugural session included Sahafiqul Islam Khondoker, communications secretary, Takashi Sakamoto, resident representative of JICA and Md Ali Hasan, executive director of Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority.

Later, technical aspects of the bridge were taken up at the day-long workshop.