Every time Bappi Hasan takes a ride to his Shariatpur home crossing the Padma Bridge, one thing crosses his mind: had the bridge been built 20 years ago, he could have managed to ensure better treatment for his deceased mother.
Kuakata, home to the second largest beach in Bangladesh, is already visited by a large number of domestic and foreign tourists each year but their numbers could increase seven-fold once the Padma Multipurpose Bridge is officially opened, according to local businesspeople.
The long awaited Payra bridge, which will facilitate road transport between a seaport and popular tourist destinations nearby, is finally nearing completion a good five years after its original due date.
The case is similar for all other hotels in the seaside town.
Zahirul Islam Miron, manager of Somudrabari, said he had to pay Tk 40,000 to his workers even though four were on leave.
Likewise, Imtiaz Tushar, the owner of Elish Park, said the payroll has to be calculated despite declining revenue. All but two of my 20 staff are on leave but still everyone gets their salaries, said Abdul Motaleb Sharif, owner of the Kuakata Guest House and general secretary of the Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association.
Similarly, hundreds of people employed by the local hotel industry are sitting idle for now but the owners still count their salaries.