New bridge brings both benefits and prestige to Bangladesh

Bangladesh has just opened the Padma Bridge, a major infrastructure project that has delivered the longest crossing of the mighty river Ganges. It was a major commitment by a government with many demands on its budget but it’s been welcomed by a leading NGO which helps some of the country’s poorest people, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.

Over six kilometres long, with road and rail decks, the €3.5 billion  Padma Bridge can be seen as a prestige project. There certainly is great pride in the newly opened bridge, which was entirely financed by the government of Bangladesh with no foreign assistance.

One of the country’s leading NGOs, the Friendship international social purpose organisation brings medical and humanitarian aid to some of Bangladesh’s poorest people, often living in hard-to-reach communities. It has welcomed the new bridge both for the economic boost it promises and for the practical benefits it will bring.

Connecting the capital city of Dhaka with the south west regions of the country, it has reduced journey times that included often lengthy waits at ferry docks for crossings in old vessels. Friendship’s regional coordinator in the area, Mohammad Eunus Ali, said that being able to travel faster meant whole days would no longer be lost simply getting to where there was work to be done.

More importantly, he said, it will also ease movement for climate-impacted communities. “Often times they lose a whole day or two depending on the conditions. There’s no certainty whatsoever. When they get to the ferry dock, they may get on board immediately, or have to wait hours upon hours. This can be very difficult, especially if they have pre-existing medical conditions”.

When she inaugurated the bridge, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, said she had no complaints against anyone “but I reckon those who opposed the Padma Bridge construction plan and called it a ‘pipe dream’ lack self confidence”. The Prime Minister said she hoped the bridge’s completion would boost their confidence.

“This bridge is not just bricks, cement, iron and concrete. This bridge is our pride, a symbol of our capacity, our strength and our dignity. This bridge belongs to the people of Bangladesh”, Sheikh Hasina added.

Bangladesh’s funding of the project will add to its reputation as a rising economic power in South Asia. It has supported the troubled economies of the Maldives and Sri Lanka by extending them loans totalling nearly €400 million. The Padma Bridge is expected to make an initial contribution to economic growth of up to 2% of GDP. Completion of the rail link will contribute another 1% and that will grow further over the next three decades.

Cutting travel distance by 100 kilometres for more than a quarter of Bangladesh’s population will boost agriculture and other business sectors. It will also benefit neighbouring countries, especially India, with transit routes through Bangladesh.

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