Hiren Pandit
Padma Bridge is the fruit of the Courage of Sheikh Hasina
Awaiting the inauguration of our dream Padma Bridge, finally decided that 25th June will be inaugurated. The name of the Bridge would be the Padma Bridge. It carries the identity of Sheikh Hasina’s immense and generous mind. Even a class of people continues to name the Padma Bridge after Sheikh Hasina. It is said that people from all walks of life want the name of Padma Bridge in the name of Sheikh Hasina. It’s not right at all. The names of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina are and will be written in the hearts of the people of this country. As long as the Bengali nation exists it will be in the mind of the people, there will be the Bengali language and it will be there for generations to generations.
No one will deny this and everyone knows that this Padma Bridge has turned from a dream into a reality today due to the courageous step of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Padma Bridge is surely the fruit of Sheikh Hasina’s courage. Even then, it is reasonable to name this bridge Padma Bridge. The state of Bangladesh is the fruit of Bangabandhu’s dream and courage. Bangabandhu remains like our blood flag. We always see the image of Bangabandhu in the flag of Bangladesh. We find Bangabandhu in every corner and cranny of Bangladesh. As long as the world exists, the people of Bengal will be able to see Bangabandhu.
Similarly, this indomitable journey of Bangladesh is the contribution of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Amid all adversity, the leaders and workers of the Awami League spread all over the country at one time became strong; she became strong in the belief of building a new country. Then in the absence of Sheikh Hasina, the leaders and workers elected her president of the Bangladesh Awami League through the council. In 1996, under her leadership, the Awami League came to power after winning the parliamentary elections. Sheikh Hasina took charge as the Prime Minister for the first time. She became the second time prime minister in 2008, the third time in 2014, and the fourth time in 2018. Sheikh Hasina has led the Awami League as a symbol of party unity in the most difficult times.
She has always fought in the struggle for democracy. She has repeatedly returned from the gates of death. She brought the Awami League to power as a popular party after 21 years in 1996 and has been working tirelessly to institutionalize democracy in Bangladesh. The impossible task that Sheikh Hasina made possible by forming the government in 1996 was to bring the assassins of Bangabandhu to justice and later in 2010 to bring the war criminals to justice and that opportunity came to carry forward the ideology of the Bengali nation.
After the assassination of Bangabandhu at the hands of the anti-independence domestic and foreign clique, black darkness engulfed her, she lit the torch of first light to drive away that darkness. She started to light the torch, the initial crisis – after the limitations, the turn of freedom and release began. Just as a Bengali is united in the morning to get rid of all the garbage, she is enriched with promise, so the wind of a good promise is seen in the book from the day she returns to her country.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina started working as a pioneer for the overall welfare, development, and liberation of the people of Bangladesh. She has proved that she has no alternative for the development of democracy in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina’s honesty, devotion, rational mentality, strong morale, wisdom, and extraordinary leadership have established Bangladesh at a different height in the world arena and she is known as a world-famous leader. The Awami League has always played and continues to play a politically vocal, defensive role against all forms of exploitation, deprivation, injustice, and oppression. Sheikh Hasina always worked for the economic, social, political, and cultural emancipation of the people from inside and outside the power.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the brave daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, has been working tirelessly for the welfare of the people. The world is amazed by Sheikh Hasina’s indomitable strength, courage, morale, and strong leadership. By 2030, Bangladesh will be the 29th largest economy in the world and by 2040, it will be the 23rd largest economy. Bangladesh has already been declared a ‘middle-income country’ with effect from 2026 and will emerge as a ‘developed country’ in 2041. The big proof that Bangladesh is moving forward is that the per capita income of the people of the country has increased in the last few years. The current per capita income is 2,824 dollars. Bangladesh today is one of the few countries in the world in terms of economic progress.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given 4 milestones, the first is Digital Bangladesh which has already reached a stage, the second is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030, the third is to build a developed Bangladesh in 2041 and the fourth is to implement the Delta Plan of 2100. In these four decades, she has fought for democracy, human rights, and economic self-reliance. This course of struggle was unfavorable. Sheikh Hasina miraculously survived the 2004 grenade attack. Under her leadership, Bangladesh has received the final recommendation of the United Nations to move from the list of least developed countries to developing countries.
Eighth Five Year Plan has been adopted. Several mega projects including Metrorail, Elevated Expressway, Karnafuli Tunnel, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plan, and Maheshkhali-Matarbari integrated development project are being implemented. 100 special economic zones, 39 high-tech parks, and IT villages are being built. Eighth Five Year Plan has been adopted. Several mega projects including Metrorail, Elevated Expressway, Karnafuli Tunnel, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and Maheshkhali-Matarbari integrated development project are being implemented. 100 special economic zones, 39 high-tech parks, and IT villages are being built.
To make a wonderful combination of agriculture, industry, trade, commerce, and modern technology, we have to come up with new plans and ideas. Bangladesh is undergoing a radical change. This country has set a shining example of sustainable development. Bangladesh’s economy has gone from a weak, underdeveloped, shaky state to a strong one. Every day new facets of modern transformation of conventional infrastructure are unfolding. A renaissance has taken place in the sectors or businesses which were previously neglected. The handful of immense possibilities is inspiring and making the people of this country interested. Due to neglect, those potential sectors that have been cherished for a long time are gradually waking up. Relevant government departments, departments, and ministries are performing more important responsibilities from time to time.
As a result, new sectors of potential are developing. Prospective new sectors are playing a very strong role in achieving prosperity and irresistible progress in Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh are not incompetent, weak, or incompetent in any way. They can work hard. Men and women of different classes and professions who used to be trapped in unemployment, poverty, and helplessness, are now setting new examples of possibilities by utilizing their talents, intelligence, strength, courage, and hard work. By making her debut as an entrepreneur, she is building her destiny in a new way. In this way, the image of different areas and towns is changing with the joint efforts of all. The bright splendor of possibility is spreading across the country. Economists say Bangladesh’s achievements in 50 years are incredible. Bangladesh is currently ranked 41st in the world economy.
Improving education, communication infrastructure, women’s education, healthcare, free book distribution to students, providing social safety net support for socially disadvantaged, helpless, elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, support for divorced women, and autism Played a major role. Her government has contributed to the status of freedom fighters as national heroes, through shelter projects, one house one farm projects, women empowerment, and overall development of different sectors. We are building a modern Bangladesh in the spirit of a secular, democratic, and liberation war. All these are the fruits of the efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Excess devotion is not good. Why do those who love Sheikh Hasina want to limit her to the name of an establishment? Sheikh Hasina is still leading the country. Work for the welfare of the people as long as she lives. She has many more possibilities and opportunities in front of him to pave the way for greater welfare for the people. People’s expectations of her did not end. So let her walk like her. By naming the Padma Bridge after her, they are trying to push her in the face of criticism without praising her. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself does not want to name the Padma Bridge after herself. It has been reported that even Sheikh Rehana does not want it. Many people are trying not to spread confusion about the date of the inauguration of Padma Bridge, suddenly some people are saying that it is the date of the inauguration of Padma Bridge. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will give the final date. The Padma Bridge may be inaugurated in June.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina has set out on the roads and deserts of Bengal to organize democracy. Sheikh Hasina is the name of the most honest politician in the last 50 years. If she had not returned, the trial of Bangabandhu’s murder would not have taken place. Joy Bangla has become the national slogan. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to build a non-communal country. Without her, the Padma Bridge would not have been built at her own expense. The path is paved in front of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, so Bangladesh must move forward by working unitedly.
The Padma Bridge is the biggest gift of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It is not only the bridge across the Padma, it has established the confidence of the Bengali nation at such a height that we can do anything impossible. And this confidence has been awakened by the brave Prime Minister of our time. The father gave the country independence and the daughter gave prosperity. Citizen life is going to the village with civic amenities.
Many people have been fishing in the muddy waters to prevent this Padma bridge from happening. The World Bank broke its promise and left the whole nation in despair. But to the surprise of the entire nation, the Prime Minister decided to build the Padma Bridge with her funds. She is our Prime Minister, this is our Bangabandhu’s daughter. When the crisis in Bangladesh is intense when everything revolves around uncertainty, black clouds are gathering in the sky of Bengal, then Sheikh Hasina becomes our last hope. One person with indomitable determination and strict devotion removes the black cloud of fear, and the people of the country see the light of hope. Whenever it seems that everything is coming to an end, we face bad times, only a savior can effectively remove the bad nightmare, she is our honorable Prime Minister. She is more of an indomitable brave person than a prime minister or a political leader. She is a warrior and a guardian.
She is bravely tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, yet, it is now the best example in the world and world leaders have praised her efforts to manage the global crisis. The Padma Bridge has made her courage even more indomitable. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the final decision on the name of the Bridge Padma Bridge.
Hiren Pandit is a columnist and researcher.