More than 500 vehicles, including goods-laden trucks, got stuck in Paturia Ferry Ghat area as ferry services have been disrupted on the Paturia-Daulatdia waterway in Manikganj due to strong currents in the Padma river on Friday. Md Zillur Rahman, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland
‘Gap of South’ bridged
The last span of the Padma Bridge is being installed yesterday. Photo: Sk Enamul Haq
With the installation of the last span yesterday, the multipurpose Padma Bridge has connected the backward southwest region with the rest of the country and, more importantly, removed the last great geographical barrier.
The six-kilometre bridge, on the third largest river in the world in terms of mean average annual discharge, will usher in various economic opportunities once it is opened possibly sometime next year.
As the countdown began for the August occasion, economists stated that the bridge would significantly reduce travel time and distance between Dhaka and the 21 districts of the southwestern region. It will also connect the Mongla port, the second biggest seaport of the country, with the capital. The bridge can also act as a ground-breaking installation for regional connectivity and trade.