The long-awaited ‘Maulana Bhashani Bridge’ over the Teesta River, connecting Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha with Chilmari upazila of Kurigram, was inaugurated today (Wednesday, August 20).
Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Interim Government on Local Government, officially opened the bridge at Haripur point in Sundarganj by cutting a ribbon.
Immediately after, thousands of people thronged the bridge, taking photos and celebrating the historic moment. The huge crowd created challenges for law enforcement to maintain order.
Smiling and waving, Adviser Asif Mahmud greeted the people of Gaibandha, accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, LGED officials, project engineers, and his entourage.
The area had turned festive from early morning, as thousands from both districts gathered along the Teesta banks to witness the long-cherished dream become a reality.
The foundation stone of the bridge was laid on January 25, 2014, by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina via video conference.
After years of complications and multiple delays, the bridge has finally been opened to the public 11 years later.
According to LGED sources, the project was built with Saudi funding and implemented by China State Construction Engineering Limited, at a cost of Tk 885 crore. The 1,490-meter-long and 9.6-meter-wide PC girder bridge is the largest project in LGED’s history. The project also includes about 80 km of access roads, 58 box culverts, and 9 RCC bridges.
With the opening of the bridge, at least 10 major markets—including Belka Bazar, Panchpir, Dharmapur, Hat Laxmipur, Sadullapur, and Dhaperhat—will be directly connected. It is expected to boost the economy and livelihoods of Gaibandha, Kurigram, and the wider northern region by reducing transport costs for agricultural and industrial goods, facilitating the growth of small and medium industries, improving communication with Dhaka and southern districts, and reducing the distance to Burimari land port by 40–100 kilometers. The bridge also holds promise for regional tourism.
However, controversy remains over its naming. Locals had demanded the bridge be named after late freedom fighter and teacher Sharitulllah Master, the pioneer behind the movement for the bridge since 1995.
They argue that his tireless efforts through the ‘Teesta Bridge Implementation Committee’ made the project possible. Despite repeated human chains and petitions, the government officially named it ‘Maulana Bhashani Bridge, Gaibandha’ on August 10.
Leaving aside the debate, the people of both sides of the Teesta are overjoyed today. With the inauguration of this long-cherished project, their long-held dream has finally come true, marking the beginning of a new journey.
