Bangladesh has marked a defining moment in its modern history with the formal inauguration of the 6.15 kilometre Padma rail road bridge, an infrastructure project that is being hailed as a symbol of economic confidence and national self belief.
Opened on June 25, the Padma Bridge is the largest infrastructure project undertaken by Bangladesh since its independence. Built entirely with domestic funding at an estimated cost of 3.9 billion dollars, the bridge stands as a landmark achievement for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government after years of political resistance and international controversy.
The bridge connects the capital Dhaka with the country’s southern districts and the port of Mongla, ending decades of reliance on ferries and river crossings across the powerful Padma River. For generations, residents of the southern region depended on boats and launches to reach the capital, often risking their lives due to accidents on one of the world’s most dangerous rivers.
Economists say the bridge will transform the national economy. Former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman has estimated that the Padma Bridge could add 1.2 percent to annual gross domestic product growth. Other economists predict it could contribute as much as 10 billion dollars to national output.
By linking the Padma and Jamuna rivers through permanent crossings, Bangladesh has effectively created an integrated national transport network. Analysts say this will reduce travel time, lower transport costs and boost trade, investment and employment across the southern and southwestern regions.
The project also carries strong political significance. Sheikh Hasina decided to fund the bridge using national resources after the World Bank withdrew support in 2012, citing allegations of corruption. Those allegations were later dismissed by a Canadian court in 2017, but by then the government had already committed to self financing the project.
“I am the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I do what I promise,” Hasina said in remarks recalling how critics had dismissed the bridge as impossible. Her decision to proceed despite international pressure has since been described by diplomats and economists as an example of political resolve.
Supporters argue that the bridge caps what they describe as Bangladesh’s golden decade of development under Hasina, pointing to sustained economic growth and improvements in health, education and poverty reduction over the past thirteen years. Even critics of her government have acknowledged the country’s strong development record.
The Padma Bridge is also expected to significantly boost regional connectivity. Travel time between Dhaka and Kolkata is expected to be cut nearly in half, while road and rail links between India’s eastern and northeastern states will improve. A World Bank study has estimated that improved connectivity between Bangladesh and India could increase national incomes by up to 10 percent and sharply raise exports.
The bridge will form part of major regional transport corridors, including the Asian Highway and the Trans Asian railway network, strengthening trade links with India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
For the southwest of Bangladesh, long considered one of the country’s least developed regions, the impact could be transformative. Studies by development agencies have highlighted how poor connectivity held back growth in an area home to nearly a quarter of the population.
As Bangladesh looks ahead, the Padma Bridge has become more than a transport project. For many, it represents a statement of national confidence and a reminder that large scale development is possible without external dependence.
As one analyst put it, the bridge is the record Sheikh Hasina will present to the nation as proof of her leadership. In a region often marked by missed opportunities, the Padma Bridge has become Bangladesh’s declaration that it has come of age.
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