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PM pledges easy communications

Opens 3rd Buriganga Bridge, hopes for 2nd Padma bridge

UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin a yesterday reaffirmed her government's pledge to upgrade Dhaka to a modern, beautiful and hassle-free city ensuring smooth communications both on roads and waterways in and around the capital.
She unveiled the plan while inaugurating the third Buriganga Bridge named Shaheed Buddhijibi Setu (Martyred Intellectuals Bridge) on the river Buriganga at Basila in Mohammadpur area.
The 708-metre-longand 10-metre-wide bridge with 1.58-km approach road at Basila point and 1.05km at Washpur point has been built at a cost ofTk 84.09 crore for connecting southern outskirts with the capital.
Of the total amount, the government provided Tk 34.84 crore while Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development funded Tk 49.25 crore.
Hasina told the function that steps have been taken to construct elevated expressway and metro rail and circular waterways around the capital to facilitate smooth communications and reduce the pressure of traffic on the road network in the city.
"The government will clean up the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya rivers to facilitate circular waterway communications around the city," she said. Besides, walkways will be constructed on the banks of the rivers. The PM said tender floating for constructing the long-cherished Padma Bridge would begin in February next. And the construction work is expected to be started by September and completed in December 2013.
Apart from this, she said, steps have been taken initially to construct a second Padma Multipurpose Bridge between Paturia and Goalanda -the two points across the Padma that are linked by ferry service.
Hasina said the government is strongly committed to linking the whole of Bangladesh with Dhaka city with modern, fast-track communications system.
She said the Buddhijlbi Bridge would provide road connections to a vast multitude of people living on the western side of Dhaka, including Keraniganj, Nawabganj and Manikganj areas.
The premier assured that her government will generate employment opportunities for the boatmen who became unemployed with the construction of die bridge.
She said steps would be taken to expand roads on both sides of the bridge to establish smooth road link between Dhaka and Keraniganj through the bridge.
The PM said her govern-ment will take steps to set up a 100-bed hospital in the Basila area to provide quick health services to the people. Besides, the country's largest graveyard is being constructed in the area.
After formal inauguration of the bridge, Hasina drove to its west side. On her way back, she got down from her car and walked for some time on the new bridge.
Thousands of people around the area greeted the I’M as she arrived at the bridge site. Standing on a long queue on both ends of the road, they greeted Hasina by chanting slogans and waving hands.
Expressing her satisfaction, the PM said with the construction of the bridge the long-cherished demand of the people of west side of Dhaka, including Keraniganj, has been fulfilled.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak and State Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Md Quamml Islam also spoke on the occasion.
Ministers, parliament members, the Kuwaiti envoy in Bangladesh, high civil and military officials and local elite were present.