The 1,490-metre-long Maulana Bhashani Bridge, constructed over the River Teesta connecting Gaibandha and Kurigram, has opened to traffic with a hope of unlocking new doors for regional connectivity and development.
Local government, rural development and cooperatives adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain on Wednesday inaugurated the bridge constructed on the Panchpir Bazar鈥揅hilmari Sadar road, said a press release.
On the occasion, officials of the Local Government Engineering Department, Gaibandha deputy commissioner office and a delegation from Saudi Arabia were present.
The LGED constructed the bridge with 1,490 metres in length and 9.60 metres in width at a cost of Tk 925 crore, jointly funded by the government of Bangladesh, the Saudi Fund for Development and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The bridge is featured with 155 girders.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation constructed the bridge as prime contractor.
Officials said that the newly constructed bridge would significantly improve connectivity between Sundarganj in Gaibandha and Chilmari in Kurigram.
This enhanced linkage will reduce travel time and costs, fostering industrial and agricultural production as well as the establishment of small and medium enterprises.
Additionally, with better connectivity and a stronger road network across both banks of the river, the region鈥檚 education system is expected to expand and improve.
The project would generate employment opportunities for the local poor in both the short and long term, contributing to socio-economic development and national economic growth.
The bridge would also boost tourism and establish a new transport corridor, reducing the distance between Gaibandha and Dhaka by about 100 kilometres.