Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh will definitely move forward, PM says while receiving loan installment of Padma Setu
Dhaka, April 6: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh will overcome any obstacle with the support of the people. She said this while accepting the cheque for the first installment of the Padma Setu loan.
The Prime Minister said, "I believe that if the people are with us, we will be able to move forward by facing any obstacles. The best example of this is the construction of Padma Bridge with own funding."
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader MP handed over a cheque of about Tk 316 crore 91 lakh as the first installment of loan repayment for the construction of Padma Setu at the Prime Minister's official residence Ganabhaban.
Sheikh Hasina said that after the World Bank suspended the loan for the construction of the Padma Setu and later some other organizations took the same as a challenge, her government built the Padma Bridge with its own funding. According to the agreement signed between the finance department and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, the loan was taken from the central bank at a low interest rate for the construction of the Padma Setu. On June 25 last year, Prime Minister Pramatta inaugurated the country's largest 6.15 km long bridge over the Padma river.
The Prime Minister thanked the people for giving full support to her government in the construction of Padma Setu with its own funding. She expressed hope that the whole nation will join hands with the government to continue the progress of the country as the people have supported the construction of Padma Setu.
Sheikh Hasina said that if the people are with us, we will be able to overcome any obstacle like disaster and take the country to the path of prosperity. She said that her main strength is the power of the people.
"I thank the people of the country for making the impossible possible (by transforming Bangladesh into a developing country) with our unwavering support," the Prime Minister said.
She strongly criticized those who think that development of Bangladesh is not possible without the help of others.
The Prime Minister said, "However, we have proved the capability of Bangladesh by constructing the Padma bridge with our own funding and have gained global status and respect."
She also said that the Padma Bridge is not just a bridge but a symbol of the pride and strength of the Bengali nation.
She said that Bangladesh had to overcome many national and international hurdles for the construction of Padma Setu. We will now be able to repay the loan taken for the construction of Padma Bridge from the tolls.
Padma Bridge is expected to have a lifespan of more than 100 years, but its construction costs will be recovered from tolls over the next 35 years.
