Time to build it

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that by building the Padma bridge with local funding, Bangladesh wants to show the world it is now capable of implementing any mega project on its own.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project and river training work at Janjira, she said her government's decision to implement this dream project with own funding was a challenge.

“The heroic Bangali nation who earned independence through an armed struggle is holding its head high today … it now wants assistance from its development partners, not handouts,” she said.

The prime minister first opened the river training work at Naodoba in Janjira and later inaugurated the groundbreaking of the main bridge at Mawa point by unveiling two plaques.

She said her government was determined all along to press ahead with the plan to build the country's largest bridge, ignoring all propaganda campaigns.

Referring to the corruption allegation raised by the World Bank over the project, she said, “I asked them where the corruption was committed. I asked for proof as no fund had been released until then. How could corruption take place without any fund being released?

“I also wrote to them but didn't yet get any reply. They couldn't prove the corruption allegation. A Canadian court asked the World Bank to submit the documents about the corruption allegation, but they couldn't do so because there was nothing to inform.”

Hasina said the issue was a different one. “A world famous personality, who had been the managing director of a bank for 11 years violating rules, started using his connections against Bangladesh to pursue his personal vendetta.”

She said the government has set up 99 Composite Brigade comprising two infantry battalions and an Engineer Construction Battalion for ensuring security and supervision of the bridge project.

The government is planning to set up modern townships at Mawa and Janjira points in addition to building international standard hotels and resorts to attract tourists, she noted.

About the possible positive impact of the bridge on the economy, the PM said the economy of southern Bangladesh would get a boost once the construction of the bridge is completed.

She urged all to come forward and work together for developing the nation and building a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and local lawmaker BM Mozammel Haque also spoke, among others.

On her way to Mawa from Janjira by a coast guard vessel, the PM witnessed the piling work at the bridge's pillar no-7 in the middle of the river.

RALLY AT MAWA

Later, speaking at a huge public rally at Khanbari of Louhajang upazila in Munshiganj, Hasina urged all to strengthen the hand of the Awami League so that the country cannot go to the clutch of “hyenas like BNP-Jamaat”.

She said her government's aim was to serve the nation and its people, not to do “destructive politics” like the BNP and Jamaat do.

Teamed up with Jamaat, the BNP “burned people” like the Pakistani occupation forces did in 1971, she alleged. “They don't care about people. They don't do anything for people's welfare … they only engage in looting, corruption, money laundering and siphoning off orphans' money… they want to make the country dysfunctional.”

Coming down heavily on the BNP-Jamaat alliance for its violence and atrocities last year, Hasina said 157 innocent civilians and 20 law enforcers were killed during that period.

To foil the war crimes trial, the BNP chief along with 68 leaders and workers stayed at her political office for over three months from January this year and directed her workers to “unleash atrocities across the country to topple the government”, she alleged.

The prime minister thanked people who inspired her and stood beside her when she appealed for funding the mega bridge project and also those who provided lands for the project. She sought their cooperation in completing the project.

Munshiganj district AL organised the rally, with its president Mohiudddin Ahmed in the chair. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and Food Minister Qamrul Islam spoke, among others.