UNB: The US has congratulated Bangladesh on the momentous opening of the Padma Bridge, saying this will create important national and regional connectivity, boost commerce and improve quality of life.
“The United States congratulates Bangladesh on the momentous opening of the Padma Bridge,” said US Embassy in a statement yesterday. The Padma Bridge, the first multi-billion dollar self-funded mega project, will connect the country’s southwestern regions to Dhaka and the rest of the country. The bridge is projected to increase the country’s GDP by 1.2percent as the economic activity in the country’s south and southwestern region will be boosted and the supply chain will improve. The US Embassy said building sustainable transportation infrastructure to connect people and goods efficiently is important to fostering inclusive economic growth. “The Padma Bridge will create new and important linkages within Bangladesh, boosting commerce and improving the quality of life,” the US embassy said.

It said the Padma Bridge is also another example of Bangladesh’s leadership in promoting regional connectivity in South Asia.

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka last night said the Padma Bridge would play an important role in fostering greater bilateral and subregional connectivity, reports UNB.

“The Padma Bridge would not only help improve intra-Bangladesh connectivity, but also would provide much-needed impetus to logistics and businesses connecting India and our shared subregion,” said the high commission in a media release.

The completion of this long-awaited project is testimony to the courageous decisions and far-sighted leadership of PM Hasina, it added.

“This success vindicated the prime minister’s decisions and also our conviction in this regard, as expressed through our steadfast support when Bangladesh decided to proceed with the project alone,” read the release.

It said the people of India once again congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the momentous occasion of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.

Yesterday, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif extended his felicitations to his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasina and the country’s people on completion of the Padma Bridge.