Munshiganj: Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said around 50 percent overall progress in the much-awaited Padma Bridge construction has already been achieved.

He also said the second span of the bridge is likely to be installed by mid-January next as the government has still the target to complete the construction of it by the stipulated deadline.

Quader, also the Awami League general secretary, came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating five newly-constructed bridges in Sirajdikhan upazila here.

‘The Padma is an uncertain river like that of the Amazon. We cannot do our construction work as per schedule as there’re some technical problems in the riverbed,’ he observed.

Once the second span of the bridge is installed, the minister hoped, the rest 39 could be set up within a short period. ‘So, we hoped the construction work on the bridge will be completed in due time.’

Quader laid the foundation stone of 30 bridges in the district in the current fiscal year. Of those, the construction work on five bridges has been completed while 25 others are now under construction.

The minister said the government will construct RCC bridges by dismantling all the bailey ones in the district by 2020.

About Awami League’s possible candidate in the by-polls to Dhaka North City Corporation’s mayoral post, Quader said their party President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at its presidium meeting discussed the nomination of an aspirant, and he has been asked to take preparation.

He said their party’s local government nomination board will formally nominate its candidate for the by-polls at a meeting to be held with Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The minister said they will announce the name of their party candidate after the schedule for the by-election is announced.