Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the authorities concerned to move forward with plans for constructing a second Padma Bridge with a Y-shaped design, a second Jamuna Bridge prioritising improved connectivity with Rangpur and other northern districts, and the Padma Barrage.
He gave the directives at a meeting with officials of the relevant ministries and divisions at the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting was informed that feasibility studies for the proposed second Padma Bridge and second Jamuna Bridge are under way. Final decisions on the locations, designs and estimated costs of the two bridges will be taken after the studies are completed in September next year.
The meeting held detailed discussions on a Y-shaped connectivity system for the second Padma Bridge. It also highlighted the need to give priority to improving transport connectivity with Rangpur and other parts of northern Bangladesh through the proposed second Jamuna Bridge.
Once constructed, the second Padma Bridge will make communication between the capital and the country's south-western region easier. It will also provide an alternative connectivity network linking Mongla seaport and the Benapole and Darshana land ports.
The meeting also discussed the Padma Barrage project, focusing on addressing water shortages during the dry season, increasing agricultural production, maintaining river flows and environmental balance, and exploring the possibility of establishing road connectivity through the barrage.
Issues relating to project financing, land acquisition, rehabilitation and coordination among the relevant ministries and agencies also came up for discussion.
Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shah Alam, State Minister for Railways and the Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Shipping and the Bridges Division Md Rajib Ahsan, Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumder, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rauf, Water Resources Secretary Dr AKM Shahabuddin, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Additional Secretary to the Water Resources Ministry Md Enamul Haque, Bangladesh Bridge Authority Director (Joint Secretary) Md Bhikharuddaula Chowdhury, Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh Bridge Authority Chief Engineer Md Abul Hossain and Padma Barrage Project Director Mahmud Hasan, among others, attended the meeting.