Immediately after the independence in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman instructed additional chief engineer T. Molla in 1972 to take up a special project on Dhaka-Mawa-Khulna road. In the fiscal year 1973-74, fund was allocated to this project for necessary earthwork and brick-manufacturing. But, after the sad and tragic events following the killing of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975, the said project activities were kept in abeyance and the manufactured bricks were diverted to other projects.
The then secretary of Roads and Highways department, Mr. Mahbubuzzaman gave a note sheet giving his arguments on the uselessness of the project. Not only that, he held responsible all those personnel of the department who had lent support to the said project.
Then Zainul Haque Sikder came forward. He, with the executive engineer Mr. M. A. Bari from Gopalganj, prepared a report justifying the need of the project and got it submitted to Ziaur Rahman, the then President, with the help of President's advisor Mr. Akbar Kabir (Faridpur). Then the negative note sheet given earlier by the Roads and Highways secretary was held up.
After a long period of twenty one years, Sheikh Hasina came into power and took initiatives of constructing the same road. With great hope to launch again the unfinished works of her father, Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of Padma bridge. The river administration activities relating to Padma river continued until 2001. But it again suffered a halt when BNP government came in power for five years next, followed by the two years rule under Caretaker government.
In 2008, Awami League again came to power and resumed Padma bridge activities. Sheikh Hasina took all required initiatives to this end, including an agreement with ADB, for their financial aid. But owing to conspiracies hatched up from home and abroad to sabotage the project, ADB ultimately backed out raising the question of corruption, which was actually baseless. In spite of World Bank's retreat from the terms of
agreement, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina made a bold, beautiful and courageous announcement in the National Assembly of Bangladesh that Padma bridge construction would be materialized from our own resources, if required. On hearing this epoch-making announcement of Sheikh Hasina, Zainul Haque Sikder congratulated her in printed media. In his message of congratulations he commented:
"It is our firm conviction that the entire nation will come forward in response to the announcement so made by Sheikh Hasina and will again get united in the spirit of 1971, with a view to translating the dream of our Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, into a reality. We are an independent nation. If we implement such a mega project as the construction of the Padma bridge from our own sources, the act will certainly enhance our honor as a self-reliant nation. The nation who could bring about total independence within a time span of nine months, would not find it difficult to implement such a project from its own sources."
When the Government issued Bond and Debenture for the purpose of raising funds for Padma bridge construction, Zainul Hauqe Sikder and his family members purchased Bonds valued at three million dollars. Not only that, he advised all rich people living at home and abroad to purchase such Bonds. He encouraged thousands of immigrants in Italy to send remittances to Bangladesh. For this purpose, he sent there two of his worthy sons, Rick Haque Sikder and Ron Haque Sikder.
In response to their persuasion, Shariatpur immigrants in Italy started sending larger amounte of remittances to Bangladesh. This is how Zainul Haque Sikder and his family has participated and made played important role in the construction of Padma bridge.
