Bangladesh Foreign Ministry denies any foreign funding in Padma Bridge construction

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The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has denied any foreign funding in the construction of the Padma Bridge project. In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh categorically asserted that the ‘Padma multipurpose bridge has been entirely funded by the government of Bangladesh.’ The MoFA said that some quarters are trying to portray that the bridge which is to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 25 June has been constructed with foreign funds and is a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China.

The MoFA further said that no foreign funds from any bilateral or multilateral funding agency has been used for the construction of the Padma Bridge. However, both Bangladeshi and foreign construction firms were engaged for the implementation of the project.

The bridge will help connect 19 south-western districts of Bangladesh with the rest of the country. It will fulfil the long cherished dream of the nation resulting in collective prosperity, socio economic development of Bangladesh as well as enhanced regional connectivity, said the official statement.

The 6.15 kilometres long Padma Bridge is the largest bridge in Bangladesh. The estimated cost of the project is over USD 3.8 billion, as per the official website of the bridge. The work on the bridge started in 2014. The upper deck of the bridge has a 4 lane road while the lower deck has a single track dual gauge rail line which is under completion.