Shawdesh Desk:

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated record 150 bridges in 39 districts across Bangladesh in a single day, giving a further boost to the country’s road connectivity.

She opened the newly constructed bridges by unveiling the inaugural plaque at Sarok Bhaban in Tejgaon in Dhaka in the morning.

The prime minister also unveiled a mural the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and planted a sapling on the Sarok Bhaban premises.

Of the inaugurated bridges, 40 are in Mymensingh division, 32 in Dhaka, 27 in Chattogram, 22 in Rajshahi, 12 in Khulna, eight each in Barishal and Rangpur, and one in Sylhet.

Earlier, on November 7 and December 21 last year, the PM opened 100 bridges and 100 roads and highways across the country.

At the same function, she also opened 14 overpasses on highways that will help ensure road safety and laid foundation stone of two major bridges, Kewatkhali Bridge and Rahmatpur Bridge over the Brahmaputra river in Mymensingh.

It will cost Taka 3,263.63 crore to construct the Kewatkhali Bridge which is set to be the largest steel-arch bridge in the country while the construction of 1471-metre Rahmatpur Bridge will cost Tk 358 crore.

The construction of the bridges will be completed by June 2025.

Among 14 overpasses opened on Thursday, eight are in Rajshahi division and six in Rangpur.

The projects have been implemented under the Roads and Highways Department.

The PM also launched the automated Vehicle Inspection Centre for five years at a cost of Tk 105.23 crore in the capital’s Mirpur; a newly constructed building of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority in Tejgaon, and BRTC’s bus depot and training centre in Mymensingh.

She, as well, introduced the compensation programme for road accident victims by providing Tk 7.08 crore as compensation to 162 road accident victims or their families.

The PM also unveiled the cover of a book titled “Unnayan Darpon” featuring the development of the road transport and bridges sector by the Awami League government in Bangladesh for the last 15 years.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Sarok Bhaban, the prime minister was welcomed with dance performance by a group of children.

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and road transport and bridges ministry’s Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Rowshan Ara Mannan spoke at the function

Road Transport and Highways Division secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri and its chief engineer Syed Moinul Hasan also spoke.

A video documentary on the development projects to be inaugurated and laid foundation stones was screened at the programme.

Local public representatives, noted personalities and commoners got connected to the programme from Mirpur BRTA in Dhaka and Mymensing Circuit House Field.