Bangladesh
Padma Bridge Inauguration Massive crowd gathers at the rally site on the occasion of Padma Bridge inauguration
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, June 25: All preparations have already been completed to open the 6.15 km long Padma Bridge for vehicular traffic. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is inaugurating the Padma Bridge at Mawa Point on Saturday (June 25) morning by unveiling the inaugural plaque.
The Awami League has organized a public meeting at Kanthalbari in Shibchar upazila of Madaripur on Saturday afternoon on the occation of Padma Bridge inauguration. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the public meeting. Though the rally is scheduled to start at noon, people from different parts of the country, including 21 districts in the south, have been gathering since morning.
In the meantime, millions of people have gathered across the Padma. A festive atmosphere is prevailing in the entire Madaripur district centered on the public meeting. The whole of Madaripur is covered with festoon-banners.
Since dawn, the Dhaka-Bhanga Expressway's Shibchar section and various regional roads are flooded with processions and slogans, leading to the public meeting place. Leaders and activists are coming to the ghats in red-green T-shirts and caps in pickup vans, trucks and buses as well as on foot.
Meanwhile, all preparations have been made for the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. About one million people will join the massive rally, said the deputy commissioner of Madaripur. Located on the banks of the river Padma, the venue has been beautifully decorated with a symbolic temporary Padma bridge with 10 spans on 11 pillars. The inaugural stage has been set up in front of the symbolic bridge.
The temporary bridge is 200 feet long and 8 feet wide. The stage is 15 feet long and 40 feet wide. In front of the stage, a 60 feet long giant boat is floating in the water. There are also several small boats. The venue has been prepared on an area of about 15 acres.
Strict security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident on the occasion of the event. Six watch towers have been set up around the stage. More than 150 CCTV cameras have been installed there. Members of the Army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and various units of the police and SSF members are working at the venue.
