Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina beamed with exaltation and cheer at the first installation of a span on the country’s much-hyped biggest infrastructure Padma Bridge project and said, ‘Yes, we’ve proved, we can.’

‘I’m very happy,’ she said while exchanging views with leaders of Awami League and its front organisations, representing different state-chapters of the United States at Ritz Carlton Hotel Sunday evening.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.

Defying doctors’ advice for complete rest after surgery, the Prime Minister met her party leaders who were desperate to have a glimpse of their beloved leader.

Sheikh Hasina recalled her government’s decision to finance the mega project from its own fund in the wake of hostilities and conspiracies from different powerful quarters including the World Bank that withdrew its loans from the Bridge on false and fictitious charge of corruption.

‘It was a big challenge, a big decision of Bangladesh (to finance the project from its own fund) as it is linked with the image of the country,’ she said.

‘We’ve set up a glaring example in the world by constructing this huge bridge over such a big river with strong current.’

An emotion charged Prime Minister said, ‘We, the Bangalee nation fought and liberated the country…We can do whatever we want if we have honest will and determination.’

Referring to her objective of politics, Hasina said, ‘We do politics for the people, we do work for the people. And we’ve proved we can.’

She congratulated the Bangladesh people both at home and abroad for extending their unalloyed support to help complete the dream project that would connect the southern region of the country with the capital.