The newly completed Companyganj-Muradnagar-Homna highway and Gouripur-Homna Bridge and two important railway overpasses --one at Shasangachha and another at Paduar Bazar-- in Cumilla were opened to traffic yesterday, reports UNB.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially opened the highway, the bridge and two railway overpasses through a video-conference from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.

In her brief speech on the occasion, Sheikh Hasina promised to build the country as a developed, prosperous and golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"We're a victorious nation in the Liberation War. So, we'll live with pride in the global arena. We'll implement the dream of the Father of the Nation by building a developed, prosperous and sonar Bangladesh," she said.

Hasina greeted the people of Cumilla and thanked the Road Transport and Bridge minister, Bangladesh Army and all others concerned for their efforts in implementing the three projects.

On the occasion, the prime minister also talked to local public representatives, including AKM Bahauddin Bahar, MP (Cumilla-6) in Cumilla, through the video-conference.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Qader, Engineer-in-Chief of Bangladesh Army Major General Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar also spoke on the occasion. Principal Secretary Nojibur Rahman conducted the launching programme, while Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary Nazrul Islam made a brief description about the projects through a power-point presentation. Besides, a video documentary was screened on the projects.

The remaining part of Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane project, including a 344-metre long and 21.60-metre wide Paduar Bazar Railway Overpass construction project, was implemented spending Tk 30.47 crore.

Thirty-Four Engineering Construction Brigade of Bangladesh Army implemented the project under the supervision of Road Transport and Highways Division. Besides, Roads and Highways Department constructed a 631.50-metre long and 8.9-metre wide Shasangachha Railway overpass at a cost of Tk 94 crore. The 23.5-km Gouripur-Homna Road along with four bridges, including 112.6-metre long and 10.25-metre wide Gouripur-Homna bridge were constructed spending Tk 73.84 crore.