Padma bridge work to start in set time: Obaidul

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said although the World Bank has cancelled its funding to the proposed Padma bridge project, the government will start construction work of the project’s main infrastructure within the stipulated time.

“We are strongly committed to start construction work of the main infrastructure of the Padma bridge project within the stipulated time,” he told reporters at his Secretariat office in the morning.

Obaidul Quader said a surprise is waiting for people who are telling before its birth that the ‘Padma baby’ will be lame and blind.

“We are looking for alternative fund for the Padma bridge project keeping in mind the public interest. If we sign agreement with alternative source (Malaysia) for funding, there will be significant reduction of cost in the project,” he said.

The minister said some three crore people have a direct stake in the Padma bridge while 16 crore people will be indirectly benefited because the country’s GDP will increase if it is implemented.