Staff Reporter :
The banks of the turbulent River Padma bonded with the country’s longest Padma Bridge became the epicenters of joys and excitement as people swarmed there to become the part of history during its inaugural ceremony.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the Padma Bridge at the Mawa point where people from all walks of life including ministers, member of parliaments, foreign dignitaries and political leaders of different parties were present.
After the opening ceremony, she joined a grand public rally at Kathalbari under Shibchar upazila after crossing the Padma Bridge.
Tens of thousands of people from different parts of the country began to gather at the two points of the Padma Bridge to see opening ceremony.
The banks of Padma were reverberated with the slogans of ‘Joy Bangla’, ‘Joy Bangabandhu’. The entire area turned into a hub of joys and excitements.
The fever of the inaugural excitement and joys touched not only the people of the two banks of the river Padma but it swept through the entire nation who expressed their delights and pleasures.
People of the two banks of the mighty Padma said that their age-old dream has come true through the opening of the Padma Bridge connecting the Souther region with the rest of the country.
They said that their sufferings of the journey by boats and launches for hours on the turbulent river Padma are now over.
People of the Southern region said, they are now connected with the entire country as they have entered into the corridor of communication through the Padma Bridge.
Since the dawn, people from all walks of life old and young, male and female reached the Kathalbari venue by roads and river routes.
They said their sufferings on the road journey to reach the Padma banks were nothing compared with their joys.
People from different districts of the country especially from 21 South and Southwestern districts started gathering on the bank of Padam at Kathalbari Ghat.
Wearing traditional colourful dresses, people began to throng to the venue with beaming smiles to have a look at the Padma Bridge -a long-awaited dream.
At least 3,000 leaders and workers of Jajira upazila Awami League of Sharaiatpur district came to the Kathalbari venue to join the grand opening of the bridge.
“We reached Jamaddar stand of Shibchar last night to join today’s rally,” Abdul Halim Talukder, member of Joynagar Union under Janjira upazila of Shariatpur said.
Belal Mahmud, who came from Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat district, said that some 500 people started their journey at 10.30 pm on Friday night and reached the venue around 6am on Saturday.
The Kanthalbari venue had been prepared on about 15 acres of land where gigantic screens were set up allowing all to watch the programme on monitor apart from live view.
Decorated boats with different festoons and banners were also kept floating on the river Padma beside the venue.
Awami League President of Shariatpur Sadar Upazila Jahangir Hossain said, “We are excited and delighted. Our Prime Minister has shown that we can also do. This bridge is an epitome of our capacity.”
Didarul Karim, hailed from Gournadi of Barishal, said, “Padma Bridge is our dream. I have come here to become a part of history. I can’t really express how happy I am.”
General Secretary of Shariatpur Sammilita Sangskritik Jote Murda Munishi came to Kathalbari with his people to see the inauguration.
He said, “Padma Bridge will help develop our culture with the economic development. Our dream has come true after combating all obstacles. I am delighted and grateful to the Prime Minister.”
Nur Mohammad Sheikh came with his grandson at the rally to see the inauguration. He said, “Sheikh Hasina has done a great job for us. I am fortunate that I saw a bridge on the Padma river in my last stage of life.”
After the inauguration, thousands of people gathered at the Mawa side of the Padma Bridge to look and walk on the bridge.
The bridge authority gave a chance to the people to walk on the bridge for some time. Even people broke the security wires to mount the bridge. They waited for hours to get an opportunity to walk on the Bridge.
They said they are much excited as the Padma Bridge, their long-awaited dream, has opened a new horizon of opportunities for all.
The Padma Bridge is a success – success of dogged-tenacity of purpose to be given to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
