67pc work in Padma bridge project done, says Quader

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the construction work of the Padma Bridge project is progressing fast. The 13th span of the much-talked-about 6.15-km-long bridge would be installed within a day or two, he added. “The overall progress of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project has reached 67 per cent now, while 76 per cent work of the main bridge has been completed so far,” he told reporters after a meeting with officials of several mega projects at Setu Bhaban in the city. Quader, who is general secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), said the progress of river training is now 55 per cent as work on three kilometres, out of the total six km, had been done and the rest would be completed by

December. He also said 12 spans, out of the total 23, have so far been installed at the Mawa point and another would be installed by May 25. Out of a total of 262 piles, 236 have already been set up and work on the rest would be completed by July, he added.

Work on 25 piers of the main bridge, out of the total 42, has been done. Work on six others would be completed by this June, he added. About other mega projects, the minister said the 3.4-km four-lane underwater Karnaphuli river tunnel would be constructed at a cost of Tk. 9,880.40 crore. Reshuffling cabinet for quality work Quader yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reshuffled the Cabinet to ensure quality work.

“Reshuffling the Cabinet is absolutely Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s decision. But I think our leader did the reshuffling to ensure good coordination, speed and quality of work,” he told journalists during a briefing at the Bridges Division in the city.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday curtailed the responsibilities of two ministers and brought in two state ministers. The AL general secretary, who was back from Singapore after two months of treatment, said reshuffling cabinet portfolios is a usual practice.

Replying to a question on the BNP lawmakers-elect joining Parliament, Quader said: “Though it is their internal issue, I will say that the BNP took a good decision in this regard as they can now do constructive criticism of the government.” When his attention was drawn to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s better treatment in a specialised hospital, the AL general secretary did not comment, saying he is not aware of the government’s decision in this regard as he had been ill. He promised to speak to the media on the matter later.

 

67pc work in Padma bridge project done, says Quader

Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the construction work of the Padma Bridge project is progressing fast. The 13th span of the much-talked-about 6.15-km-long bridge would be installed within a day or two, he added. The overall progress of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project has reached 67 per cent now, while 76 per cent work of the main bridge has been completed so far, he told reporters after a meeting with officials of several mega projects at Setu Bhaban in the city. Quader, who is general secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), said the progress of river training is now 55 per cent as work on three kilometres, out of the total six km, had been done and the rest would be completed by December. He also said 12 spans, out of the total 23, have so far been installed at the Mawa point and another would be installed by May 25. Out of a total of 262 piles, 236 have already been set up and work on the rest would be completed by July, he added. Work on 25 piers of the main bridge, out of the total 42, has been done. Work on six others would be completed by this June, he added. About other mega projects, the minister said the 3.4-km four-lane underwater Karnaphuli river tunnel would be constructed at a cost of Tk. 9,880.40 crore. Reshuffling cabinet for quality work Quader yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reshuffled the Cabinet to ensure quality work. Reshuffling the Cabinet is absolutely Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas decision. But I think our leader did the reshuffling to ensure good coordination, speed and quality of work, he told journalists during a briefing at the Bridges Division in the city. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday curtailed the responsibilities of two ministers and brought in two state ministers. The AL general secretary, who was back from Singapore after two months of treatment, said reshuffling cabinet portfolios is a usual practice. Replying to a question on the BNP lawmakers-elect joining Parliament, Quader said: Though it is their internal issue, I will say that the BNP took a good decision in this regard as they can now do constructive criticism of the government. When his attention was drawn to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias better treatment in a specialised hospital, the AL general secretary did not comment, saying he is not aware of the governments decision in this regard as he had been ill. He promised to speak to the media on the matter later.