Economy
6-Lane Bridge over Madhumati to inaugurate today
The long-awaited Kalna Bridge, the 1st 6-lane bridge in Bangladesh will be inaugurated Monday, 10 October, bridging the Madhumati River in Narail.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the 690-metre bridge, also known as Madhumati Bridge, via video conference.
The bridge is totally ready to become fully operational as soon as it is inaugurated, said Ashrafuzzaman, Project Manager of Madhumati Bridge and Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department in Narail.
Residents of Gopalganj, Narail, Jashore, Benapole, Satkhira and north-western districts in the country have been eagerly waiting to cross the bridge since the inauguration date was announced.
Ashrafuzzaman said, “The length of the bridge is 690 metres and the width is 27.1 metres. The six-lane connecting road on both sides is about 4.5 kilometers.”
The total cost of construction of the bridge is about Tk 9.60 billion which has been funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Cross Border Road Network Improvement Project of the Department of Roads and Highways.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of Kalna Bridge in January 2015.
Toll rates fixed
The Madhumati Bridge authority has already fixed the toll rates to be paid to cross the bridge by different vehicles.
Large trailers will need to pay Tk 565, trucks with three or four axles Tk 450, medium-sized trucks with two axles Tk 225 and small trucks Tk 170.
Meantime, large buses will have to pay Tk 205, minibuses or coasters Tk 115, microbuses, pick up vans, converted jeeps and wreckers Tk 80, and private cars Tk 55.
Autorickshaw, three-wheelers, battery and CNG-driven autorickshaws will pay Tk 25, motorcycles Tk 10, and finally paddled vans, rickshaws, or bicycles will pay Tk 5.0 as toll to cross the bridge.
After the inauguration, the toll will be collected manually first. Subsequently toll will be collected digitally through the operator.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
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