Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the daily average income from toll collection at Padma Bridge is Tk 2 crore 18 lakh.
He gave this information in a written reply to a question of Member of Parliament Nurunnabi Chowdhury in the session of the 12th National Parliament on Wednesday (7th February). It was presided over by Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.
The Prime Minister said that since the inauguration of the Padma multi-purpose bridge on June 25, 2022, a symbol of the nation’s pride and capability, the total toll collected in the last 19 months has been Tk 1,270,81,34,350. After the inauguration in one year (up to June 25, 2023) the income is about 798 crore 23 lakh 16 thousand and daily average income is about 2 crore 18 lakh.
He said that Padma Bridge has contributed greatly to the country’s economy. Uninterrupted communication has been established with 19 districts of the southern part of the country including Dhaka. The construction of the bridge created employment for about 1.4 percent of the labor force in the country. Poverty has been reduced by 84 percent in the country. As a result of bridge construction, the GDP growth in the southern region is 2.5 percent and overall 1.23 percent.
The Chief Minister said that the bridge will be connected to Trans Asian Rail and Road through this bridge. As a result trade, industrialization and tourism will accelerate. In the meantime, the socio-economic life picture of the south-western part of the country has changed and a lot of activity has been created.
Sheikh Hasina said in response to another question of parliament member Umm Kulsoom Smriti that, if Bangladesh establishes 100 economic zones, employment will be created for about 1 crore people directly and indirectly. Along with this, it will be possible to produce/export goods and services worth an additional 40 billion US dollars annually. As a result, the income and purchasing power of the public will increase and will play a role in poverty alleviation. The Economic Zones will play an important role in making Bangladesh a developed country by 2041.