Teesta River crossing opens to vehicle passage with completion of Maulana Bhashani Bridge
Maulana Bhashani Bridge Opens, Improving Connectivity in Northern Bangladesh
After a decade of planning and construction, the Maulana Bhashani Bridge over the River Teesta was officially opened to traffic on August 20, 2023. The 1,490-metre-long and 9.6-metre-wide bridge connects Haripur Ghat in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha to Chilmari Ghat in Kurigram, significantly improving connectivity among the three northern districts of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Gaibandha.
The construction of the bridge, which includes 31 spans and 3.5km of river rule work, began in 2021 and was completed in July 2023. The Chinese company China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) was awarded the contract for the project, with the tender invited in November 2018. The Maulana Bhashani Bridge project, which was approved in 2014, has a total construction cost of Tk 925 crore.
Thousands of residents gathered on both sides of the river to witness the opening of the bridge, which was officially inaugurated by Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan at the Haripur end in Gaibandha. The bridge's opening is a celebration for the residents in the Teesta river basin, particularly those from the char (river island) areas of Gaibandha, Kurigram, and Lalmonirhat.
The Maulana Bhashani Bridge is expected to facilitate access to healthcare, reduce travel time, and ease the transportation of agricultural products to Dhaka. Nearly 35 lakh people will benefit from the improved connectivity provided by the bridge. Locals believe the bridge will play a transformative role in the socio-economic development of the region.
The bridge's opening will also reduce the distance between Dhaka and Kurigram by approximately 135 kilometres, saving up to three to three and a half hours of travel time. The bridge's opening is a significant milestone in the development of northern Bangladesh, improving connectivity and fostering economic growth in the region.
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