Syed Shemul Parvez :
The Padma Bridge put an end to the long-term risks and hardships for the general passengers of Shariatpur. It is learnt that after almost 18 years, direct bus service with Dhaka has started from Shariatpur. On Sunday, the first bus crossed the Padma Bridge and reached Jatrabari in Dhaka around 11pm. After a long wait, the drivers and passengers were happy to cross the Padma Bridge.
In the past, passenger’s buses used to ply crossing the river Padma by ferry from Shariatpur to Dhaka. But due to extra time on the ferry, misery of the passengers and other reasons, the bus owners stopped direct bus service with Dhaka in 2004 in the face of losses.
On Sunday at 8:40 am, 15 chair coaches started their journey from the Shariatpur central bus stand. Each bus has a capacity of 42 passengers. Although more than two thousand passengers gathered to accompany the first journey through the Padma Bridge, only 630 people were able to accompany the dream journey. The rest will have to wait for the next day. Local passengers said that it is a matter of history and pride to be the first day passenger from Shariatpur across the Padma Bridge.
Mayor of Shariatpur Municipality Parvez Rahman inaugurated the procession as the chief guest at Shariatpur Central Bus Stand at 8.30 am. Shariatpur Transport Owners Association President Faroque Ahmed Talukder, General Secretary Bachchu Bepari, Shariatpur Inter-District Road Transport Workers Union President Farooq Ahmed Chowkidar, Vice-President. Jalal Majhi were also present at the time.
Ali Ahmed Khan, 76, of West Kotapara village in Shariatpur municipality, said, “After a long wait, a safe journey across the Padma Bridge to Dhaka in a comfortable bus was like a dream for us.” I was overjoyed to be the first bus passenger. This joy and feelings cannot be said in words. The safe journey of Shariatpur has started
with the indomitable courage of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Prime Minister received many congratulations, best wishes and endless prayers from the people of Shariatpur, he said.
Tara Mollah, 52, a small trader from Uttar Palang village in Shariatpur municipality, said, “Until yesterday, our journey to Dhaka was risky and arduous. But that is just a memory now. Going to Dhaka via Padma Bridge is now a dream trip. We have forgotten the journey of hardship of the last 35 years.
Faruk Ahmed Chowkidar, president of Shariatpur Inter-District Road Transport Workers Union, said the transport workers would get a new lease of life by holding the Padma Bridge. The quality of their lives will change.
Sincere congratulations and gratitude on behalf of all the transport workers of Shariatpur to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the pioneer of this great achievement.
Faruk Ahmed Talukder, President of Shariatpur Paribahan Malik Samiti, said the transport sector in Shariatpur, which had been in a state of disrepair for nearly 35 years, was revived on Sunday due to the blessing of Padma Bridge. Padma Bridge is a potential golden sun for our Shariatpur transport sector. Today (Sunday), the journey of our Shariatpur transport family started with the journey of 15 buses, he added.
