NEW DELHI
The Government of India has congratulated Bangladesh on the completion of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Praising the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said the infrastructure project illustrates the bold decision-making abilities of Ms. Hasina and that India has always supported the developmental initiatives of Bangladesh.
“The Padma bridge will not just help the internal connectivity of Bangladesh but will also improve trade and logistics between India and Bangladesh. This bridge will play an important role in improving bilateral India-Bangladesh and subregional links,” said the Indian mission in a congratulatory message.
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge, the biggest infrastructure project of Bangladesh was inaugurated on June 25 (morning) by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who opened the bridge by paying toll tax.
Crowd gathers to watch the opening of Bangladesh’s longest bridge, over Padma River on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 25. | Photo Credit: AP
“This success proves the resolve of Prime Minister Hasina that we strongly believed in. India extended unwavering support when Bangladesh decided to self-finance the construction of the project,” declared the official Indian statement. The bridge will connect at least 20 districts of Bangladesh and is expected to help in faster transportation of goods and commodities with India and other neighbouring countries — Nepal and Bhutan.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif too sent a congratulatory message to Ms Hasina and said the “bridge is an important landmark in the development journey of fraternal Bangladesh”. In a speech delivered on Friday, Prime Minister Hasina however said that the principal opposition BNP is linked with Pakistan. “They always sing dil me hei Pakistan, so it is obvious that they do not want prosperity of Bangladesh,” said Ms. Hasina criticising those who used to oppose the construction of the Padma bridge.
