Critics really don’t know about Bangladesh’s potentiality: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday said the critics of Bangladesh in true sense don’t know about the potentiality of the country rather they underestimate the ability of the nation.

“I think those who criticize us actually are underestimating the ability and potentiality of the nation. They are disrespecting (the country),” she said.

The Premier made this remark while delivering her valedictory speech at the Parliament in response to the people who have been criticizing the country since the beginning of the construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge with self-financing. 

“Our critics are actually unaware of the power of their own country, the courage of the people and the power of the people,” she said, adding: “Otherwise, why would they interrupt again and again?”

Sheikh Hasina, also the Leader of the House, questioned how will their perception just come to be so mean?, mentioning that they always thought how will technology come and how will success come?

She reminded them that “We have snatched away victory through the war of liberation. Why can't we (construct the Padma Bridge)?”

She said these people are always underestimating the capacity of the nation and suffer with a mentality of begging to others all the time.

“Why are we going to lay up our hands?” she posed a question.

The Prime Minister said that many people have shown various fears (for the construction of the Padma Bridge with own financing) but she denied all.

The Padma Multipurpose Bridge that opened on June 25 is demonstrating the capacity of Bangladesh, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said that three issues -- administration, management and good governance-- were needed in implementing such mega projects like Padma Bridge. “I believe that we’ve these three powers,” she observed.

She mentioned that the government had framed a panel of experts comprising world’s best experts who monitored and coordinated the technical and other aspects.

“We’ve kept strong vigilance on the most important issues - -‘governance’ and ‘vigilance’—in implementing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge,” she added.

The Prime Minister said the project cost of Padma Bridge was very much reasonable and no scope for corruption there.

“According to any consideration, this cost is very much reasonable. It is very much similar to the costs of other bridges constructed in the recent time,” she said in a reply to the questions raised about the ‘high cost’ of the Padma Bridge project by the opposition, particularly BNP.

In this connection, she referred to the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge in USA, which estimated cost was US$ 1 billion at the beginning of construction but finally the cost increased to $ 6.5 billion. 

“Estimated cost would not stand all time, some time it goes up, and compared to it (Oakland Bay Bridge) the Padma Bridge’s cost is much lower as the Padma River is the mightiest river with strong current after Amazon,” she added. 

Sheikh Hasina said that no government officials were in the tender evaluation committee; rather a panel of experts has done this job and as per their recommendations, the Cabinet Committee has approved it. “So there was no scope of corruption,” she said. 

She said the Padma Bridge has opened a golden door for the economic progress of the country.

She continued: “It has put a positive impact on the whole nation. All the people now say that we can do too.” 

The head of government said the successful construction of the bridge has created a power among the people. “The power of the people will usher us to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country by 2041,” she added.

Noting that the bridge has not only established the direct connectivity between the southern region and the capital, she said, “I think that it has opened up a golden door for Bangladesh to make further economic progress.”   

Attributing different reasons behind rise of the cost of Padma multipurpose bridge project, she said the cost of the main bridge is Taka 12,133.39 crore, including Taka 1,000 crore for installation of 400-kv electricity transmission line and gas line.

If the Taka 1,000 is excluded, the cost would come down to Taka 11,133.39 crore, she said.

She went on that the cost of every component of the bridge did not exceed the estimation of the tender evaluation committee rather the costs have been slightly less than the estimation of some components.

Sheikh Hasina said when the construction of the bridge has been completed, the costs particularly in the main two components --the main bridge and river training—did not exceed what was estimated even the eight years after starting its work.

Such success of Padma Bridge would be considered as a very remarkable achievement at any evaluation, she said, adding: “There was no scope for corruption in it.”

The Premier opined that the project cost can be recovered within 18-20 years.

“Bangladesh has made its own place in a new height in the world through the construction of Padma Bridge. Those who used to neglect Bangladesh in the past would not do so anymore now,” she said.

About the flood, the Prime Minister said the government has started the relief and rescue operation immediately after the flood hit the north-eastern part of the country.

She said the government would take steps to rebuild houses and roads damaged by the flood as part of their rehabilitation.

Sheikh Hasina said a total of 228 MPs took part in the budget discussion and spoke for some 38 hours and 57 minutes before the passage of the budget for FY 2022-23.

 The opposition members were given enough scope to speak in the budget session and particularly BNP MPs got scope to speak as per their demand, she added.