Padma bridge inauguration: Celebrations at home and abroad
The long-awaited inauguration of the Padma bridge yesterday was cheered at home and abroad, in a rare unifying moment for the country.
As soon as the curtains came down on the opening ceremony, which was held at Mawa point, people joined in colourful processions and released balloons, doves and festoons into the sky.
Over at the capital, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police brought out a colourful procession from Mintoo Road to Razarbagh police lines. The Hatirjheel bridge was illuminated; there was water dance and fireworks.
Jubo League Chattagram South unit brought out a procession at DC hill area of the port city.
Ashraf Uddin, the divisional commissioner of Chattogram, led a jubilant rally that started from MA Aziz Stadium and concluded at the same venue after parading different city streets.
Rajshahi's district administration had arranged a ceremony at the Freedom Fighters Memorial Stadium.
In Rangpur, government officials released balloons and doves and organised essay writing, art and poetry recitation competitions for children. In the morning, Abdul Wahab Bhuiyan, the divisional commissioner, brought out a colourful rally from the town hall premises to Zila School ground in the city.
In Mymensingh, a colourful grand rally, organised by the district administration, was brought out from the town hall premises to Rafique Uddin Bhuyan Stadium.
As soon as PM inaugurated the Padma Bridge, Talukdar Abdul Khaleque, the Khulna City mayor, and other top divisional government officials released colourful balloons at Khulna stadium. Special video clips made on Padma bridge were screened at different places in the city.
In the morning Khulna Metropolitan Police brought out a colourful rally marking the inauguration of the bridge.
Khulna University authorities distributed sweets among students and teachers to mark the opening of the bridge, which connects the southwest region with the rest of the country.
Barishal district administration brought out a colourful procession from the Circuit House to Shilpakala Academy. Later, an exhibition and discussion on the inauguration ceremony of the Padma Bridge were organised at the Shilpakala Academy.
Local administrators of Sylhet organised a curtailed event to mark the inauguration of the bridge as the district is almost inundated with flood water. Authorities held a live screening of the inauguration and released balloons.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh missions abroad also organised events to commemorate the landmark structure's opening, reports BSS.
The Bangladesh embassies in Washington DC, Hanoi, Rome, Tokyo and Amman; the deputy high commission in Mumbai; the Bangladesh high commissions in Islamabad; and the consulate general in New York organised various programmes.
As part of the observance, the Bangladesh embassy in Washington DC organised a discussion session at its Bangabandhu Auditorium on Friday night before the grand opening of the bridge in Bangladesh on Saturday (June 25).
"The Padma Bridge is our pride and it's a symbol of our glory and self-dignity," said M Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh's ambassador to the US, in the discussion.
Junaid Kamal Ahmed, vice-president of the World Bank, and ABM Nasir, a professor at North Carolina Central University, took part in the discussion as special guests.
The construction of the Padma bridge is a matter of glory for Bangladesh, Ahmed said.
The country's connectivity witnessed huge progress in the last few years, and the Padma Bridge has further improved the sector, he said.
The Bangladesh chancery was illuminated marking the grand opening of the Padma bridge.