Padma Bridge to be named after Sheikh Hasina, says Quader

A section of Padma Bridge. Prothom Alo File Photo
A section of Padma Bridge. Prothom Alo File Photo

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday said his ministry has taken a decision to rename the Padma Bridge as ‘Sheikh Hasina Padma Bridge’.

“We have taken the decision on renaming the bridge as ‘Sheikh Hasina Padma Bridge’ on the basis of opinions and suggestions received from the government and opposition party lawmakers and the common people,” he told newsmen after visiting the construction works of Padma Bridge at Maoa Ghat.

Quader, also the general secretary of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, said, “Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana wanted the bridge to be named after the river ‘Padma’. But, I am under pressure from lawmakers and the common people to rename the bridge as ‘Sheikh Hasina Padma Bridge’.”

He said, “We should show respect to our prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her courageous lone decision which has made the bridge visible despite the World Bank’s withdrawal from the bridge project … Sheikh Hasina has proved that she is a brave daughter of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

Fifty nine per cent of the overall work of the Padma Bride project has already been completed while 70 per cent of the main bridge has been finished, he added.