Korea, Japan and India have congratulated the people and the government of Bangladesh on the occasion of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge.
Conveying his ‘heartfelt congratulations’, Korean Ambassador in Dhaka said the completion of the bridge signifies the bright future of Bangladesh.
“Korea is very happy to take part in this very proud history-making project. A Korean company, Korea Expressway Corporation has supervised the construction process of the Padma Bridge and this company will also be in charge of the operation and maintenance of the bridge,” Lee Jang-keun, the South Korean ambassador to Bangladesh, told the media.
Korea has been and will be with Bangladesh in its grand journey towards realising its dreams of prosperity, peace and humanity, Mr Lee added.
“I congratulate the government and the people of Bangladesh on this success”.
Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Mr Naoki Ito said the bridge will help in boosting the economic growth of Bangladesh.
With the completion of the Padma Bridge, Dhaka will be connected with the Southern part of the country, he added.
“We are congratulating the government and the people for this wonderful milestone project,” he said.
“This bridge will have a very tangible impact in terms of growth of GDP of Bangladesh and I have a full appreciation for the government of Bangladesh which have implemented this project”
Although JICA did the feasibility study it could not join in the funding of this project, Mr Ito said adding that Japan and Japanese people fully supported the project.
In this regard, he mentioned that Japan is providing support for the Big B initiative under which Matarbari industrial hub and Metri rail projects are being implemented.
These projects will also ensure further growth in the economy of Bangladesh as well as of the region, he added.
Indian envoy in Dhaka Vikram Doraiswami, said the long-cherished bridge is the outcome of the ‘continuously and consistently courageous decision’ of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh Prime Minister took continuously and consistently courageous decisions to go ahead with the project and India was always supportive of her decision, he told journalists while commenting on the inauguration of the bridge.
And Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proven correct in her decision, he added.
‘It is a major infrastructural project not in terms of brick, stone and steel, but because it is a symbolic connection between the two parts of Bangladesh’ the envoy said.
The envoy noted that this bridge is a connector of more than businesses, it is a connector of people and emotions.
Doraiswami also said that the inauguration of the bridge is a moment of celebration for Bengalis not only of Bangladesh but also for the Bangalis of India.
He said the bridge will connect not only the southern part with the capital Dhaka, but it will also extend the connection beyond Bangladesh into the sub-region.
