Bangabandhu Bridge: Greatest Achievement for Bangladesh
The construction of Bangabandhu Bridge is the materialization of the long cherished desire of the people of Bangladesh. It has opened a new dimension of progress and prosperity. It has connected the eastern and western region of Bangladesh. After the emergence of Bangladesh it is the greatest achievement for Bangladesh.
The river Jamuna divides the country into two zones-eastern and western. Usual ferries and the country boats are used to cross the river. In the rainy season it becomes more difficult and dangerous to cross. Again in the dry season the ferry Ghats are often shifted from one place to another. It affects badly the transportations of goods and people. Under the circumstances the question of contractions of a multipurpose bridge over the mighty needs no explanation.
The story of Bangabandhu Bridge is a long story. It is the result of the successive demands of the people of North Bengal. The idea for a multipurpose bridge over the river Jamuna was first conceived in the sixteenth. In the early seventeen ties a number of technical and feasibility surveys of the project were undertaken by a team of foreign experts notably the Japanese. In June 1984 the government decided to build the Bangabandhu Bridge.
Three consultants – Rendell, Palmer and Tritons of Britain, NEDECO of Holland and Bangladesh consultants Ltd, completed the first phase of the feasibility study, 1986. The same group of consultants carried out the second phase of the study including a detailed economic feasibility and engineering design of the bridge in June 1987. They also prepared tender documents for the project.
For the construction of Bangabandhu Bridge about 7273 acres of land have been acquired on both sides of the river in the district of Tangail and Sirajgonj. The affected families have been compensated for their loss of land.
The total project cost was jointly financed by the government of Bangladesh, the government of Japan, the World Bank and the Asian Bank.
The actual physical work of the bridge began on October 1994. It took 889 days to complete the bridge. During his period 18 lakh labors worked hard day and night to compel the bridge. More than 2 thousand foreigners including engineers, technicians, supervisors and laborers’ worked. They were from the USA, UK, Holland, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Srilanka. The construction contractor was a Korean firm and river training contractor was a Dutch firm. The bridge is 4-8 km. long and 18.5 meter wide. There are 49 spans, 1263 deck segment, 121 piles and 50 piers. There are 4 road lanes, rail way (Broad and Meter Gauges), power transmission line, telecommunication line and gas line. The probable expenditure for its construction is about 3000 crore Taka. The construction of the bridge was completed on June 20, 1998. It was opened on June 23, 1998.
A sound well-developed transport and communication system plays a vital role in the socio-economic progress of a country. The construction of Bangabandhu Bridge has a new era in the transport and communication system of Bangladesh. It has paved the way for harmonious development of agriculture, industry, electricity, forest and natural wealth in both the regions. It has reduced transport fares including rail way fare. The bridge has removed difficulties in carrying good and passengers between the two parts of the country. Now natural gas has reached the door of the people of north region of the country.
To mitigate all the adverse impacts of the bridge, an environmental management action plan has been taken at the cost of TK 24 crore.
The importance of the Bangabandhu Bridge cannot be described in words. It is milestone in the fuels of transport and communication system of Bangladesh.
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