Bangladesh recently evidenced the historical moment marking the inauguration of the Padma Bridge on 25th June 2022, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The bridge was a dream seen several decades back by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the visionary leader who dreamt of Bangladesh grooming in its highest developmental state and progressing amongst the major nations in the world. Might sound like an overstatement when a whole nation is synonymously addressing the Padma Bridge with development, but it’s very true indeed. The bridge is a symbol of national aspiration and must not be used as a means of transportation only but must be realized as a corridor of economic growth. It carries significance for Bangladesh on several accounts. There is a strong confidence factor here – the bridge is the ultimate testament on how a country with limited resources can achieve its goals only if there is determination and a powerful leadership, of none other than Bangladesh’s Hon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Padma Bridge shall build the strong connectivity of 21 South Western districts with the Capital, Dhaka. The internal connectivity along with regional connectivity will further strengthen. The Bridge shall write the new tale of development for that region with the aim of making quality of life standardized; employment options bloom, flourish economic development and add immense value in the 4th industrial development. New corridors for employment and income will be created. The transportation system will improve as movement of people will be enhanced. Supply chains within the country shall be connected better. People from the south-western region are further expected to have better access to education, healthcare and other services, something that which was seen to quite a doting task for the quite neglected region. This will not only allow people to move to urban areas easily, but enormous opportunities shall also come to the rural areas.
The Padma Bridge is estimated to increase the GDP of the country by appx. two percent. It will benefit about three crore people across 21 South-Western districts of Bangladesh. The Bridge shall further house a parallel railway system which is soon to be completed as well. This shall contribute another 1 per cent to the GDP of the country. The share of the agriculture sector to the GDP of the country has significantly declined with the emergence of non-farm activities in the rural areas, lately. This will be facilitated by several factors including better communication and connectivity, further strengthening the ties across the states connecting all the stakeholders in the agriculture sector. The same is happening for the fisheries sector.
The lack of proper connectivity had previously taken several lives as well. When critical patients were to be transported to the capital from the south-western districts, often some breathed their last while waiting in the queue to be loaded on the ferry. Such sad stories marked many families with endless grief throughout their lives. But the scenario is no longer the same now. Ambulance drivers were hopeful about the new ease in travelling and expressed satisfaction on not having to see their patients pass in front of their eyes, merely due to length of journey. The same shall be for people seeking legal support to and fro from the capital while heading to the highest Court in the land, The Supreme Court of Bangladesh. The Padma bridge shall create a strong internal demand for this area. There will be a need for sub- bridges, roads, express ways, and all these must be constructed on a fast track basis.
The economic growth of any economy is greatly depended on a reliable infrastructure, and they are mutually beneficial. Studies have found positive relationship between infrastructure and economic output in many countries. This happens through gross domestic capital formation, employment, trade and human capital. Good infrastructure enhances productive capacity and improves competitiveness of a country.
Since 2015, Bangladesh has been working towards fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Bangladesh has achieved the pointers for graduating from the LDC, and by 2027, the full process shall be completed. Now the nation aspires to become a developed country by 2041.
As the 4th industrial revolution is on the go, the Padma Bridge shall have an enormously positive impact on the future growth of the industries in the nation. The country’s main foreign exchange earner, the readymade garment (RMG) industry of Bangladesh houses for 81 per cent of the exports of the nation and shall experience a steadfast growth with the increased connectivity with the South-Western regions now. Most of the nation’s knitwear and garment facilities are located in the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. But we will be able now set up many RMG and other industries in the south and South-Western parts, with increased interest of the buyers willing to explore and set up JVs in the said area given the new opportunities entailed.
The sector is currently solely depended on the Chottagram Sea Port for exports while the South-Western Mongla Port is functioning on a limited scale due to a lack of roads. The country is also building two other seaports — Matarbari and Payra. But with the bridge functioning, the said ports along Payra Deep Sea Port and the Benapole land port, will be plausible options to export from to their ultimate destinations, in significantly lesser time and distance, and avoiding the hassel of the container congestion in the Chattogram port.
Meanwhile, Patrapole is also under proper development work, which shall further be under use. The Payra Port, which is soon to near to its completion, will be the first deep-sea port of the nation, allowing mother vessels to berth directly, instead of the feeder vessels at the moment. This shall in turn reduce our export time, for example, the appx. 35 days of export time to China shall be much lesser, including exports to other continents. Increasing the importance of the Mongla port in the movement of commodities and improving connection between Dhaka and the south will save many working hours, accelerating the country’s economic growth.
Likewise, the bridge is expected to attenuate public struggle by generating employment for 1.2 per cent of the total labor force. For example, setting up of industries in the newly connected districts will help stop migration from the rural areas to the big cities for work. Better access to finance for small and medium businesses such as agro-processing, handicrafts and food industries will also help create jobs. Besides, improvements of facilities such as uninterrupted electricity, internet, education and healthcare in the villages, will retrain people from crowding the cities. The much needed de-centralisation might just as well start realising in the most passive form, but yet shall reduce the pressure of working people moving to the capital each day for generating a livelihood.
Its important the government makes the crucial decision of which sector they wish to focus on – industry, agriculture or service? This must be made clear in the policy making of the upcoming fiscal years. There should be a mention of what incentives will be offered to the investors in the given areas for future investments, and also tax incentives that will be available for the said investors.
One cannot expect that the bridge shall automatically create different opportunities for people. This requirement to realise the allocated special economic zones in the area in a fast track priority basis is of utmost importance. In addition to that, availability of land with utility, finance, tax incentives are needed to be incorporated in the government policy. RMG Industries heavily depend on gas supply. The Gas lines have extended till Bhola. Its now a demand of time to further extend the gas lines towards the 21 South-Western districts, enhancing the opportunities for new industries to sprout. This shall play a pivotal role in the development of this sector enhancing job opportunities. These economic benefits shall depend on the government’s support to the business community and investors.
Furthermore, the local products of the South-Western region will now have an increased opportunity with greater access to wider markets and improved supply chain in the capital. It will further speedup the urban-centric development process in this historically backward region. Jute, the once “golden fiber” and prime export item, which had subsided over time, after this connectivity, might as well resuscitate, and boost the country’s economy a lot.
The Padma Bridge will not only boost national connectivity but will also help Bangladesh to be a significant center of regional communication, thus furthering the new hot spots of tourist attractions in the South-Western regions which remained majorly unseen – the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, Kuakata beach, Khan Jahan Ali Mazar and other likes. A link road with the double-layer steel truss bridge, including a four-lane highway on the upper level and a single-track railway on the lower level, will connect with the trans-Asian highway and railway networks. It will strategically strengthen Bangladesh in the region. This shall further develop hotels, motels and resorts in the given region, further increasing the job opportunities. Our connectivity with India, Myanmar, China, and the rest of the region will be smoothened and it will push the country’s economy to a new height.
The Bridge of dreams has created a web of hope for millions across the nation. People celebrated unanimously after the Bridge was inaugurated believing how this shall change their lives for the better. Bangladesh has stepped into the era of not just a country graduating from LDC, but also classified as a role-model of development, with another dream to be realised soon, the Bangabandhu Tunnel, at Karnaphuli. From a bottomless basket, the journey till date has been the most memorable one for the nation which recently celebrated 50 years of its journey as an independent country. The most fast-growing sector of the country, the RMG, is hopeful that the new developments shall not just allow new industries to form, and create a huge opportunity in the job market, but also allow Bangladesh to flourish as a nation in the International arena as well.
(The writer is BGMEA, Director of Envoy Group and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh).
