PM assures completing Padma Bridge by 2018

"River training and construction work of the main Padma Bridge will begin at the same time and construction work of the dream project would be completed by 2018," she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a civic rally after inauguration of a number of projects. She arrived here this morning in a day-long visit. Gopalganj district administration arranged the rally.

Without mentioning name of any person or organization, Sheikh Hasina said, "They spread slander against us of corruption in this project, we challenged it, and now it has been proved that their blame was baseless and intentional."

She said, "The allegation against our government with respect to Padma Bridge was a conspiracy against us. So we rejected their financial offer and declared construction of the bridge with our own resources."

The Prime Minister said, "There is a section of people in the country who don't like any of our activity. They always try to find a fault or imperfection in our activities."

She said, television channels and air condition rooms are their preferable places from where they release their criticism against us. "We have allowed those private television channels and helped keeping them alive through providing uninterrupted power supply," she said.

"They have excessive desire for power, but have no quality of gaining public support," she said categorizing them as the friends and bootlickers of the anti-liberation force and ghosts for Yahia.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, AL's religious affairs secretary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and local AL leaders spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated power connection for 12,000 families of 55 villages under Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas, Tungipara 5-KVA Power Sub-Station and 30-kilowatt solar panel at Tungipara Upazila Parishad Building.

She also inaugurated a 39-meter Guarder Bridge on Razapur Kheyaghat-Jaharerkandi Road, a 17- meter RCC Guarder Bridge on Purba Latenga -Pashchim Latenga Road and a 30.05-meter Guarder Bridge on Bandhabari Union Parishad-Bhai Bhai Bazar Road under Kotalipara upazila and Tungipara Upazila Sonali Bank Bhaban.

Expressing her firm determination to make a self-dependent country the Prime Minister said, "We would certainly stand on our own foots and build the nation as a modern, educated nation. We would not beg from others."

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said country's southern part had been neglected for a long time. Her government has taken pragmatic initiative for development of the region.

In this regard she pointed out about construction of the Paira Bandar, a naval base and establishing a division of Bangladesh Army in the southern part.

She highlighted the country's economic progress during her current tenure saying Bangladesh maintained over six percent growth during the last few years despite global economic slowdown. Country's Forex reserve is now over US$ 22 billion.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken steps for creating residential facilities for rural areas alongside constructing flats for urban people. Gradually residential flats would be constructed in every union, she said adding there would have no thatched house in the country.

The Prime Minister assured that the government would construct houses for those people who lost their houses in recent flood.

Pointing out repeated attempt on her life Sheikh Hasina said, "Despite all obstacles we have never retreated and marched forward for nation's progress. We have build up food autarky in the country. Farmers are being given all out support including banking facilities to boost up agricultural production."

The Prime Minister said her government is following the footprint of Bangabandhu as far as development issues are concerned. Her government has attached priority to education.

She said around one crore people have got job during her present tenure. "Besides, 24 lakh people have gone abroad with job after taking training on different trades," she added.

"We are working round the clock for changing the lots of the people and materializing the dream of Bangabandhu to build a happy and prosperous nation," Sheikh Hasina said adding she is ready to make any sacrifice for the cause of the people.

Criticizing BNP for its alliance with militant and terrorist outfits, the Prime Minister said BNP could give nothing to the nation accept militancy and terrorism. They have done all heinous acts to foil the January 5, 2014 election.

Reiterating her party's election commitment to reach electricity to every house, she said her government has initiated a massive programme to materialize the vision. Under the programme, she said nuclear power plant is being constructed and projects were taken for generation of power from coal, biogas and 30 lakh solar panel.
-BSS