‘Don’t share photo or video of Padma Bridge’

The authority of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project has asked all of its officials and staffers not to share any information, photos and videos of construction activities of the long-cherished bridge on social media.

It also said any interaction, ideas, thoughts or information, including any "hazardous occurrences or natural disaster" shall not be given using Facebook, Viber or Whatsapp etc.

However, officials would be allowed to use e-mails, SMS or written documents to maintain communication with the superiors, colleagues and subordinates, it said.

The authority sent a letter to all departments concerned of the project on Saturday, sources said.

The directive comes at a time when construction works of the project is facing huge challenge due to Covid-19 pandemic and strong current in the Padma river. No span could not be installed after June 10, when the 31st span was installed, due to strong current on the river, officials said.

Besides, at least 192 railway stingers and 220 roadway decks, supposed to be used for construction of the bridge, fell into the Padma on July 31 as erosion hit a part of the bridge project's construction yard.

Although the erosion will not affect the main Padma bridge site as it occurred nearly two kilometres off the bridge site, it may cause some delay as the railway stingers have to be imported from Luxembourg.

"I have received a letter not to share any photo or information on social media. I think all officials involved in the project got the letter too," an official of the project said, wishing not be named.

Contacted, Project Director Shafiqul Islam said admitted giving such an instruction. "More than 5,000 people are working in the project. Should I allow all to share photo in the social media?" he told The Daily Star yesterday.

Asked whether sharing photo or videos of the project was causing any problem, he said, "Yes, this is causing some problems."

Many people are posting on social media or uploading video on YouTube mixing some true and false information regarding the project, he said.

"We have asked our officials not to share photo or document on social media," he said.

Construction of the Padma Bridge started in November 2014 to connect the country's southwestern region with the capital through road and rail links.

The current deadline of the project is June 2021.

The project cost rose to Tk 30,193 crore following several revisions of the deadline.

However, the current deadline is going to be deferred further due to the Covid-19 pandemic and strong current in Padma, officials said. The overall progress of the project was around 80 percent till June this year.

Once opened, the 6.15km-long bridge will connect the capital with 21 southern districts. It is expected to boost the country's gross domestic product by 1.2 percent.