POBNEWS24, Dhaka Nov 8, 2022 : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once again called on everyone to be thrifty and frugal in power and energy consumption as well as increase overall production to get rid of the global recession and potential food crisis caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating 100 bridges simultaneously in 25 districts on Monday. He joined the function virtually from Ganabhaban.
Referring to the opening of 100 bridges as a historic event, the Prime Minister said it will help accelerate the overall development of the country.
The bridges will help law enforcement agencies take swift action to ensure public safety and maintain law and order. Helping people in any disaster will be easier, transportation and marketing of goods will be faster and easier. The bridges have established direct road links with the capital, as they have freed 33 routes from ferry services, making road links free, fast, easy and safe.
Pointing out that the impact of the global economic recession will come to Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said, ‘You will produce as much food as you can in each of your areas. Produce as much as you can, poultry, goats and sheep as much as you can. That is, they should try to make their own food resources. Because the economic recession that is happening worldwide, its shock should not damage Bangladesh too much. ‘
He said, ‘The injury will come, because the world is now a global village. So if there is a problem somewhere, its impact comes to Bangladesh as well. Also we have to be very economical in electricity consumption as the price of everything increases. ‘
The Prime Minister once again said, ‘Increase production to sustain the trend of development of the country that we have created. And in places where dengue outbreaks have been observed, keep the houses and surroundings clean and go to sleep with mosquito nets. ‘
Among the 100 bridges opened at a cost of Tk 879 crore 62 lakh, there are 46 in Chittagong division, 17 in Sylhet division, 14 in Barisal division, seven each in Dhaka and Rajshahi divisions, six in Mymensingh division and three in Rangpur division.
The Prime Minister said that his government is working continuously following the footsteps of the father of the nation to improve road connectivity. Mentioning that his government has taken various steps to increase road, sea and air connectivity across the country, he said, ‘In the last 14 years, we have constructed or reconstructed one lakh 13 thousand 303 meters of bridges and 21 thousand 267 meters of culverts on various highways. Apart from this, many roads have been upgraded to highways, so that the communication system is improved. ‘
Sheikh Hasina said, ‘It is a matter of great pride for us, we have built the Padma Bridge with our own funding. He said that his government is building bridges, roads and highways in such a way that not only within the country, we can connect with Asian highways and Asian railways.
At that time Sunamganj, Barisal, Khagrachari and Chittagong districts were virtually connected with Ganobhaban.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader spoke on the occasion. Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Ahmad Kaykaus presided over the event and Road Transport and Highways Department Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Noori briefed the bridges. A video documentary on the bridge was screened at the event.
