History as Padma Bridge opens today

The nation wakes up to the most thrilling event of the year so far: the inauguration of the Padma Bridge in the morning amid hightened security.

All preparations have been completed as the much-anticipated 6.15 kilometer bridge opens to traffi at 11:12am today, bringing an end to years of wait for the structure.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally open the Padma Bridge by unveiling the inaugural plaque at the Mawa point in the morning.

Awami League arranges a public rally marking the opening of the bridge at Kathalbari under Shibchar upazila in Madaripur at 12 noon. The Premier will join and address the rally.

Madaripur deputy commissioner said they have taken all-out preparations as around 10 lakh people will join the mammoth rally.

The venue located on the bank of river Padma has been decorated gorgeously by making a symbolic makeshift Padma Bridge having 10 spans on 11 pillars.

Before the symbolic bridge, opening stage has been set up. The makeshift bridge is 200 feet long and 8 feet wide. The stage is 15 feet long and 40 feet wide.

A 60-feet long gigantic boat floats on water in front of the stage. Several small boats are also there. The venue has been prepared on around 15 acres of land.

Stringent security measures have also been taken to avert any untoward incident. Six watch towers have been set up on the premises of the stage.

More than 150 CCTV cameras have been set up there. 

Members of Army, several units of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police, and SSF members are working at the venue. 

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem, former Awami League Presidium Members - Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman and Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Benazir Ahmed today visited the venue at Kathalbari.

Mirza Azam will be the coordinate of the rally. He expressed hope that this rally would be the 2nd largest rally in the country's history following historic March 7, 1971 rally.

As preparations have been taken to host a mammoth public gathering, 500 temporary toilets, 22 toilets for VIP, pure drinking water, a 20-bed and two 10-bed mobile hospitals and medical centers have been ensured. There will be ambulance facilities too.

The entire Madaipur district wore a festive look as colorful banners have been hanged on the streets and roads.

The programme will include colorful cultural function, fireworks and laser show. Sweets will also be distributed among people.

Awami League Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the event will be a historic one as around one million people will attend it.

He hoped Bangladesh will march further ahead with the inauguration of the country's biggest self-financed project Padma Bridge.

The much-awaited Padma Bridge will be inaugurated tomorrow but vehicles will be allowed to ply on the bridge from 6am on the next day (Sunday).

The bridge will bring a massive progress in road connectivity of 21 south and southwestern districts with capital Dhaka and other major cities.

Marking the grand opening of the bridge, a festive mood is prevailing in the country, particularly in the southern and southwestern region which will be directly facilitated through the major road connectivity.

As per the Premier's programme schedule, the Prime Minister will unveil commemorative postage stamps, souvenir sheets, opening day cover and seals at 11am at Mawa point to mark the grand opening of the country's biggest self-financed mega project which is likely to boost GDP by 1.2 to 2 percent.

Prior to that, she will leave Tejgaon Airport, Dhaka at 9:30am by a helicopter to join the programme at Mawa point. 

The Prime Minister will formally open the Padma Bridge by unveiling the inaugural plaque and mural-1 after paying toll at the Mawa point at 11:12am. 

She will also join a munajat to be offered there. She will begin her journey for Jajira point in Shariatpur from Mawa point by road crossing the bridge at 11.23am.

The premier will reach Jajira point at 11:45am and unveil the inaugural plaque of the bridge and mural-2. She will also join a munajat there.

Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League president, will join a public rally of the party marking the opening of the bridge at Kathalbari under Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district at 12 noon.

Padma Bridge became visible with the installation of the first span on 37th and 38th number pillars on September 30, 2017.

Later, all 41 spans were installed on 42 pillars one after another. The entire structure of the multi-purpose 6.15 kilometer Padma Bridge became visible with installation of its last 41st span on December 10, 2020. 

The self-financed bridge project was implemented at the total cost of Taka 30,1933.7 crore.

The cost of main bridge construction is Taka 12,133.39 crore (including Taka 1000 crore for 400 KV transmission line tower and gas line) and the cost of river training works (RTW) of 13.8km is Taka 9,4000.0 crore.