The long-cherished dream of people from the southern region of Bangladesh has come true as the construction work on main bridge and river training of two-tier Padma Multipurpose Bridge was formally inaugurated on Saturday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the groundbreaking of the main bridge construction and river training works at Janzira in Shariatpur and Mawa in Munshiganj this morning.  

She first opened the river training works at Naodoba in Janzira by unveiling a plaque. She later inaugurated the groundbreaking of the main bridge at Mawa point by unveiling a plaque.  

On her way to Mawa from Janzira by a coastguard vessel, the premier witnessed the piling work at No. 7 pillar in the middle of the river Padma.   

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina arrived at Janzira at about 11:00am by an Air Force helicopter.  

After inaugurating the river training work at Naodoba, she addressed a civic rally there.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, is scheduled to address a public rally at Khanbari in Louhajanj, Munshiganj in the afternoon.

The government is building the Padma Bridge, the country’s largest infrastructure, with its own fund of Tk 28,000 crore.

On completion of the project, nearly six crore people of 19 southern districts will be connected with the rest of the country, including the capital Dhaka.

The work on the Padma Bridge is broadly divided into five parts — the main bridge, river training, two link roads and infrastructure (service area) construction.

The two-tier Padma Bridge has the provisions for movement of vehicles on the upper tier of the bridge and operation of train on the lower tier.

The China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Corporation was appointed for construction of the main bridge, while China's Sinohydro Corporation for the river training.

Local firm Abdul Monem Limited was awarded the contract for the construction of two approach roads and infrastructure development.

Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and Korea Expressway Corporation and Associates are supervising the bridge construction.

Assuming office in 1996, the Awami League government initiated the project in 1998 for the first time. After returning to power in 2009, it revived the initiative. Though the World Bank initially proposed funding much of the project, Bangladesh withdrew the funding request after the global lender raised a stink over alleged corruption.

In 2014, the government signed contracts with the two Chinese companies for the construction of the main bridge and the river training work.