C T Online Desk: Sheikh Russel Cantonment has been prepared to provide all-out security services for the much-awaited Padma Bridge which opens to traffic on June 25.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina already inaugurated the cantonment through a videoconference on March 29 ahead of the inauguration of the country’s largest bridge.
The cantonment has been set up as a 99-composite brigade under the 9th Infantry Division at Mawa and Jajira ends of the 6.15km bridge.
Riverine Engineers Battalion is being formed under 99 Composite Brigade. This brigade will provide structural security for the bridge and also protect it from enemy attacks.
Bangladesh Army has been providing security for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project.
Air defence missiles and artillery have already been deployed to deal with any enemy attacks from the air.
While inaugurating the cantonment at Jajira in Shariatpur, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered the Armed Forces to always remain prepared to thwart any attack on the homeland.
“We don’t want to engage in war with anyone. The Father of the Nation taught us a foreign policy based on ‘friendship with all and malice to none’. We believe in this motto. But, we have to be ready so if a foreign enemy ever attacks, we can stop them and maintain our independence and sovereignty,” she said.
In another development, two police stations named Padma Bridge North Police Station (Padma Shetu Uttar Thana), which is under Munshiganj District Police, and Padma Bridge South Police Station (Padma Shetu Dakkhin Thana), under Shariatpur District Police will be launched soon to ensure law and order and security for the country’s largest bridge.
The prime minister is expected to inaugurate both the police stations on June 19 or June 20 ahead of the bridge inauguration.
The four-storey police station buildings have been constructed with a six-storey foundation, next to the toll plaza at both ends of the bridge.
In addition to the main bridge, there are various facilities including connecting roads, service areas and rehabilitation projects.
Besides this, toll collection will begin on the day of the bridge inauguration.
Keeping the safe withdrawal of money in mind, the police station buildings have been constructed right next to the toll plaza.
Police will oversee tax collection at toll booths and traffic congestion around the bridge and the service roads.
Each of the police stations will comprise one inspector, two sub-inspectors, two assistant sub-inspectors and 15 constables.
At Jajira end of Shariatpur, there will be two unions called East Naodoba and West Naodoba under the Padma Bridge South Police Station while two unions named Medini Mondol and Kumarbhog will be under Padma Bridge North Police Station at Mawa end of Munshiganj.
Shariatpur Superintendent of Police SM Ashrafuzzaman said there were six police stations in the district earlier, but now one more has been added.
Two police stations on both sides of the bridge will be inaugurated this month, he added.
Md Kamruzzaman, assistant inspector general (media) of police headquarters, said both the police stations are ready to provide services for the people and beneficiaries of the bridge.
The inauguration of the much-needed bridge will usher in a new era in the country’s communication network, which will greatly contribute to the national economy.
The 6.15km bridge will connect south Bengal with other parts of the country.
The bridge built over Padma River will put a great impact on the life and livelihood of the people of 21 southern and south-western districts.
Economists predict that the bridge will help increase the country’s GDP by 1.23 percent while that of south and south-western districts by over 2 percent by creating employment opportunities for some 10 million people.
