My evaluation of Padma Multipurpose Bridge

With the inauguration of Padma River Bridge in Munshigunj, Bangladesh, a new chapter has been added in the 51st year old history of the country. This bridge specially to be coined as tremendous perseverance of Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaWazed who despite facing obstacles all around the country plus other parts of the globe, stood up vibrantly on his feet to transform his much awaited vision into a grand reality. Most shocking part which I heard on this historic morning that one reputed Nobel Laureate of the country spread some vehement castigation about Bangladesh that there are corruptions hovering all around the country which was proved absolutely concocted.

Later on after thorough investigations by judiciary of Bangladesh as well as by various international bodies it was proved malicious oriented. Even it has happened such one reputed soul of the country was forced to be put behind the  barsbut later on released from the clutches  of law enforcement authorities when everything was proved false and full of vices. Brain behind it all happened when a talented soul who was crowned with Nobel Laureate in economics met with a legal tussle with Awami League government of Bangladesh. The issue was regarding his retirement as director of a small scale bank of the country but the person concerned declined to relinquish his position.

Later on there was a massive brickbat between that Nobel Laureate and government of Bangladesh but ultimately what we evince was that the later was give clean chit from legal point of view while former badly lost the legalbattle badly. Padma Bridge is also known as Padma Multipurpose Bridge is a multipurpose rail road bridge across river Padma. This bridge is based at Munshigunj, is under district of Bikrampur, located in central part of Bangladesh. It is also a part of Dhaka division which borders Dhaka district. It begins from Maoa, and then extended rightuptoShariatpur and Madaripur located on the South West part of the nation adjoining Northern and Eastern part of the country. Through the opening of this Padma Bridge economy of the region of the country will be more benefited. Thus in the subsequent paragraph it is my earnest endeavor to illustrate my evaluation of this dream of Bangladesh Padma Multipurpose Bridge which will also link with India more fast than what it was previously.

My evaluation of Padma Multipurpose Bridge:
If I am to express my evaluation about Padma Multipurpose Bridge then I would first of all like to express my deepest elation and ebullition about the opening of this much desired project. I being a Bengali from the Indian state of West Bengal is extremely proud of Bangladesh and Prime Minister of the nation Sheikh HasinaWazed. I salute this dynamic lady of not only Bangladesh, but also across South Asian subcontinent, which has been built up at a cost of Taka 30,000/- crores. From this dynamism of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaWazedone point becomes crystal clear in our mind that there is nothing impossible in this world. I am confident that nobody can challenge my views in this regard.

There was a time when some of the leading financial bodies, notably World Bank and International Monetary Fund stopped granting funds to Bangladesh to expedite this much awaited project of the nation. However through collection of in-house funds Honorable Prime Minister has been successful in translating her dreams into utmost reality. She has made her name prominent not only across her country but also across South Asian Sub Continent plus rest of the globe. The country has advanced much in comparison to what she was previously but with the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge the economic growth of the regions will enhance not only indigenously but also with closer and cordial neighbor India. In this regard I have the privilege to attend direct telecast ceremony which was organized by Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, in Kolkata, India. In this gathering selective luminary was invited by BDHC, Kolkata, such as film maker and intellectual Gautam Ghosh, journalist Snehashish Sur and linguist Pabitra Sarkar. All these notable Bengalis of Kolkata expressed great pride in them about the opening of this Padma Multipurpose Bridge. All of them opine the views that through the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge man to man contact between Kolkata and Dhaka will be much easier. Bengalis like me and many others will emphasize more closer and cordial bonding between India and Bangladesh in the upcoming days of our life.

Economic development regarding the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge: With the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge on June 25, 2022 by the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wazedeconomic development of the region as well as trade and commercial relations with Indian state of West Bengal will rise to greater heights. There are enough opportunities of trade and economic collaborations between two nations. But all these probable opportunities need to be traced out by officials of two nations. For example, Bengalis of Kolkata, always crave in for Hilsa fish from river Padma, which rarely comes to this city. Though sometimes Hilsa fish is available in Kolkata, but sweetness of Hilsa of Padma River is not to be compared with other quality of this fish. From another aspect Padma River is famous that noted Bengali Litterateur of repute ManikBandopadhyay, Padma Nadir Majhi, which binds the heart of Bengalis under one banner. Hence Padma is closer to our heart in this part of the world.

As per economic benefit of the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge is concerned it seems to generate immense economic benefit. All citizens of Northern and eastern part of Bangladesh will be economically benefited due to the opening of this bridge. In one part of the nation there was wanton poverty so long now the people of those part will evince smiles in this in them. This is in fact ranked 122nd among other longest bridges globally. The length of the bridge is 6.15 kilometer long with a diameter of 3 meter radius along with piling up being 128 meters deep which is regarded as the deepest piling in the world. Also the bridge is earthquake resistant. That means movement of vehicles and train will ensure smooth movement to ensure smooth flow of trade and commerce with South Eastern part of the nation along with neighboring India. Trade relations between India and Bangladesh are accelerating at a faster pace between two nations. It was in the financial year period 2021-2022 bilateral trade between two nations stood at $10.8 billion. As the current figure is not available with me hence I apologize to my online readers of both nations in not being able to state the current figures. Hope in future when I get updated figures then I shall be able to state for your cognizance.

Distance between Kolkata and Dhaka on the aftermath of the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge:

With the opening of dream Padma Multipurpose Bridge the distance between rail travel and by road travel will reduce to a greater extent. Thus the distance of travel will reduce through by road exactly 70 kilometer and travel by railway exactly 4 hours 30 minutes. Another advantage from economic point of view and alsofrom  tourist travel point of view that through this traveling will be possible via India by Bangladeshis citizens as well as to other nations like Nepal, China, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand. Opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge will also be rated as major railway link of the Trans Asian Highway Network (THAN). Among all the THAN's 16 road routes, three run through Bangladesh, it is through the opening of railway routes through this bridge, another two routes have been added.

History behind the construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge:
It is my honored responsibility of this writer from Kolkata, India to state short history pertaining to this unique bridge of Bangladesh for the cognizance of my online readers of India and Bangladesh. It was in the year 1998 on September 18, a project worth Taka 3,843 crores was envisaged by the government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh towards the construction of a bridge over Padma River on Dhaka-Mawa- Bhanga- Khulna highway with the objective to establish direct communication network between the capital city to the South Southwestern part of the nation. Among the above mount Taka 750 crores was from local sources and the rest given by overseas donors. Later on when the allegations erupted within the country as well by international bodies' construction work of the project got stalled badly. Bangladesh government decided to fund the project on self initiative. China submitted this proposal in the year 2014 on April 24, to the government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. The major companies of China like China Major Bridge Engineering Company along with Daelim L&T JV and Samsung C&T Corporation purchased the tender papers. However in the ultimatum China Major Bridge Engineering Company's tender won the bridge and finally they were instrumental in successful completion of this massive project jointly with Bangladesh Bridge Authority thereby paving the towards successful completion of this bridge along with inauguration on June 25, 2022.

Advantages of Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Bangladesh:
The common advantages of Padma Multipurpose Bridge are stated as follow:Padma Multipurpose Bridge will be helpful for economic development of South and South Western part of Bangladesh.Padma Multipurpose Bridge is fully earthquake resistant.It is through Padma Multipurpose Bridge bus, cars and other commercial vehicles can easily ply with ease and comfort.Padma Multipurpose Bridge lessened the prolong journey between Kolkata Dhaka by road route and back to Kolkata.It is helpful for acceleration of trade, commerce and economic activities between these two cordial nations.

Conclusion:
Summing up my above views one point strikes in the mind of citizens of India and Bangladesh that the opening of Padma Multipurpose Bridge will speed up the business not only internally but also with neighboring India. Also we should not forget that when Sheikh HasinaWazed might not be alive in this earth her name will remain chronicled in the annals of history of both India and Bangladesh. We have learnt from opening of this dream bridge that nothing is impossible in today's world, if we possesself confidence and determination like Bangladesh Prime Minister, then it will be more easier for the entire humanity around the globe to overcome any obstacles and vicissitudes of life. My tributes will always remain upon her forever.


Sujayendra Das is a Columnist, The Asian Age, Dhaka
Kolkata, India