Bangladesh invites pre-qualification bids for Padma bridge

DHAKA - Bangladesh has invited international bids for pre-qualification for the construction of a road-cum-rail bridge over river Padma that will link the northern and southern parts of the country better.

Communications Minister Abul Hossain said Tuesday the government wanted the construction work to start by December this year.

“We are expecting to complete the bridge within three years from commencement of the work in December 2010,” he said.

The government of prime minister Sheikh Hasina had floated a $2.4 billion tender for the bridge on April 11. The pre-qualifiers would be selected as per World Bank guidelines.

The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Islamic Development Bank are providing loans to the government for the project.

The 6.1 km-long bridge will be built on composite steel truss.

It is expected to help the less developed southern region of Bangladesh develop economically. The incidence of poverty in Patuakali, Barguna, Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira areas of the region is higher compared to the central and eastern parts, the country’s poverty map shows.

Riverine Bangladesh’s only other major link is the Jamuna bridge which links the eastern parts with the western.