Padma Bridge to be renamed after Hasina: Obaidul

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said the Padma Multipurpose Bridge would be renamed after prime minister Sheikh Hasina as per public opinion.
He said the bridge was under construction for single contribution of the prime minister.
The minister, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, while talking to journalists after visiting the Padma Bridge project area at Jajira point, said that they were feeling pressure of public opinion every day. 
‘The prime minister and her sister Sheikh Rehana favour to name the bridge as per the name of the river. But, I am under pressure from the common people and members of parliament to rename the 6.15 kilometre bridge as “Sheikh Hasina Padma Bridge”,’ he said.
The road transport and bridges ministry had been informed and decision had been taken from the Bangladesh Bridge Authority to rename the bridge as Sheikh Hasina Padma Bridge to reflect the public opinion, he continued. 
A summery has been sent to the prime minister in this regard, he informed. 
Quader said Sheikh Hasina should be respected for her courageous lone decision which has made the bridge visible despite the World Bank’s withdrawal from the bridge project.
The bridge is being for single contribution of the prime minister as it is under construction with country’s own fund of Tk 31,000 crore, he said.
About the project progress, 59 per cent of the overall works on the Padma Bridge has already been completed while 70 per cent of the main bridge has been completed, he said.
During the visit, the project director Md Shafiqul Islam was also present, among others. 
New Age correspondent in Shariatpur reports that the minister also informed that the prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge’s Mawa-Bhanga approach rail link, 60 per cent completed works and works of six lane expressway at the project area on October 13. 
Construction of the Padma Bridge started in 2014.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net