Another dream of the people of the southern region is going to be fulfilled with the completion of the construction work of the 8th Bangladesh-China friendship bridge (Bekutia Bridge) on the Kacha River in Pirojpur. The eighth Bangladesh-China friendship bridge built at Bekutia Point on the Kacha River in Pirojpur on the Barishal-Khulna highway will be inaugurated on September 4. On that day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the bridge by connecting virtually from Ganobhaban.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim confirmed this information to reporters after inspecting the bridge on Thursday (August 25) afternoon.
The construction work started on October 1, 2017 and the 998 meter long bridge was named as the 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge at a cost of 894 crore 8 lakh taka financed by the Chinese government.
As a result of the construction of this bridge over the Kacha river of Pirojpur on the Barishal-Pirojpur-Khulna regional highway, the bridge will connect Payra sea port, Mongla sea port, Benapole and Banglaport land ports with direct road connection with Barishal divisional headquarters and Khulna divisional city. Besides, after the Padma Bridge is launched, this bridge will create special benefits for the residents of the southern region. By road, the Barishal-Khulna regional highway is about 100 km long, but it takes about three hours to travel. The time will come down by one hour after the bridge is opened at Bekutia Point on the river Kacha.
In 2000, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the construction of a bridge across the river Kacha in a huge public meeting at the Pirojpur Government Boys High School grounds. After that survey work for construction of bridge at Becutia point of river Kacha was taken up under a project. However, when the next BNP government came to power, the construction work of the bridge did not progress much. Later, during the government formed under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina in 2009, the project gained momentum and the construction work of this bridge started at the end of 2017 with the financial grant of the Chinese government and now the construction work is in the final stage. The construction area of the 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge (Bekutia Bridge) near Bekutia ferry station in Pirojpur Sadar Upazila and Nalbunia in Kaukhali Upazila has been revealed, the construction work of the bridge has been completed.
Locally known as Bekutia Setu, this bridge will bring smiles to crores of people from Jessore to Bhola after its inauguration. The unlimited suffering of long time will be reduced for the people of all classes and professions including the traders of this region. At the same time, the Bekutia bridge will establish direct road connectivity with the country's only deep sea port Payra and beach mermaid Kuakata, the largest land port Benapole and sea port Mongla.
Earlier seven expensive bridges were built for direct connection with Kuakata via Dhaka-Barishal highway without ferry. The bridges are MA Jalil Bridge in Wazirpur of Barishal, Bir Sreshtho Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge in Babuganj, Shaheed Abdur Rob Serniabat Bridge near Barishal city, Payra Bridge, Shaheed Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Kamal and Sheikh Russell Bridge. Also numerous bridges have been constructed on internal roads.
According to related sources, these important bridges were built during the Awami League government. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the first to improve the communication system to improve the fortunes of the once neglected potential southerners.
It has been reported that the latest good news for southerners is that the 9th China-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge is going to be built on Lohalia River at Baga Point of Baufal Upazila in Patuakhali, the southernmost district of the country. If this bridge is built, besides fulfilling the dreams of about 15 lakh people of Galachipa, Dashmina and Baufal, the people of this region will be able to return home from Dhaka after finishing their daily work.
After inspecting the bridge, SM. Rezaul Karim said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate this bridge by connecting virtually from Ganobhaban on September 4 at 10 am. And at the same time, thousands of people will be present at the Pirojpur end of the bridge and enjoy the joy of the inauguration ceremony of the Prime Minister.
He said that the bridge built on the river Kacha on the Barisal-Khulna regional highway has been named Bangmata Begum Fazilatun Necha Mujib Eighth Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge. With the inauguration of this bridge, there will be no more obstacles in the direct road communication of the 21 districts across the Padma with the whole of Bangladesh including the capital Dhaka.
The minister said that after the bridge is inaugurated, a massive economic change will be initiated in the lives of the people of the region. There will be unimaginable changes in all areas including business and travel. With the opening of the Bangmata Begum Fazilatun Nescha Mujib Bridge, the horizon of direct road communication with one of Bangladesh's beaches, Kuakata, Payra Seaport, Payra Thermal Power Plant, Sheikh Hasina Cantonment, Benapole, Seaport Mongla and the industrial city of Khulna will be opened.
