In Patuakhali, a child named Shrishendu Biswas wrote a letter to the Prime Minister in 2016, requesting a bridge over the Uttoal Payra River. In response to that letter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to build the bridge.
According to the government’s promise, the construction work of that bridge is now commencing nationwide. After a prolonged period of review, verification, land acquisition, and blueprint preparation, the infrastructure work has finally started.
On Tuesday (November 14), the Prime Minister will inaugurate the construction work of the 2nd bridge over the Payra River through a video conference. The preparations for this event have already been completed by the Bridge Division and the district administration.
In 2016, Shrishendu Biswas and his family faced difficulties while traveling on the trawler and boats due to the absence of a bridge over the Uttoal Payra River. That is why he wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, requesting the construction of the Shrishendu Bridge in Patuakhali. In response to that letter, the Prime Minister assured the construction of the bridge, which received widespread praise at that time. Now, the bridge is becoming a reality, bringing joy to the residents.
The Director of the Shrishendu Bridge Project over the Payra River, Tohazzal Hossain, mentioned that this bridge would be constructed under the supervision of the Bridge Division. The project is expected to cost approximately 1,428.28 crore Bangladeshi Taka and will connect the areas of Kochua, Betagi, Patuakhali, Lohalia, and Kalaiya with a 17-kilometer long bridge over the Payra River.
Additionally, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several other development projects in the vicinity of the Mirjaganj Payra Bridge. The necessary preparations for these projects have already been completed, as confirmed by the district administrator, Mr. Nur Kutubul Alam.
Through the implementation of these projects, the promises made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are coming to fruition. The construction of the bridge will provide significant benefits to travelers on the “Kochua-Betagi-Patuakhali-Lohalia-Kalaiya” road, ensuring their safety and convenience. This 1,690-meter-long bridge over the Payra River, near Payrakunj, will establish direct and uninterrupted road communication with several upazilas of Barisal, including Mirjaganj, as well as ensuring cost-effective infrastructure support. The completion of the bridge construction is expected by December 2025.
