The long awaiting formal inauguration of the Padma Bridge by the government will be held at the Munsiganj end of the bridge, but the inaugural festival of the bridge will be held at Kanthalbari end at Shibchar in Madaripur district through a massive gathering by the ruling Awami League.
Awami League leaders said that over 10 lakh people are expected to join the inaugural festival.
It should be known that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the much talked about Padma Bridge, a dream come true, on June 25, for the public. Diplomats from different countries, eminent personalities of Bangladesh and senior leaders of different political parties along with the government high-officials are also expected to be invited at the celebration programme.
According to sources in the government, after the inauguration of Padma Bridge at Munshiganj end, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will cross the bridge and go to Jazira end. She will join a public meeting after unveiling the inaugural plaque in front of the toll plaza on the Jazira side. The inaugural public meeting stage, at Kanthalbari in Shibchar, Madaripur, will be in the form of a sailing boat.
"The inaugural festival at Khathalbari will be held under tight security. There would be CCTV footage from Jajira in Shariatpur to Bhanga in Faridpur on the day," Awami League (AL) joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said.
A delegation led by Nasim visited the venue of the rally Thursday morning.
After visiting the venue, Nasim told newsmen, "More than one million people are expected to gather from Jajira in Shariatpur to Bhanga in Faridpur at inaugural function".
“The construction of the Padma Bridge has been made possible due to the courageous initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said, adding that through the Padma Bridge, the long-awaited dream of the southern people is going to be fulfilled.
The people can start using the 6.15-kilometre bridge that will connect the capital with the south-western regions from June 25.
On the opening day, people from all over the country would take part in the festival. Some will join in person, while others will watch on television.
Criticizing the BNP's various comments on the Padma Bridge, the AL joint general secretary said, "If the BNP conducts any terrorist activities in the name of the movement, the Awami League will deal with them harshly."
Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Nur-e Alam Chowdhury, MP, AL Organizing Secretaries Advocate Afzal Hossain, Mirza Azam and SM Kamal Hossain, Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, Shariatpur-1 MP Iqbal Hossain Apu, AL Central Committee Member Anwar Hossain and Jajira Upazila Chairman Mobarak Sikder, among others, were present.
