What is happening, what will happen

The countdown to the inauguration of the Padma Bridge has begun. I thought this time the country would be festive. Forgetting all differences of opinion, the nation will unite and embrace this remarkable achievement. On the occasion of another achievement of Bengalis, a cheerful atmosphere will be created all over the country. But last Saturday's fire at the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda seemed to have taken everyone by surprise. The death of people, the smell of burnt corpses, the cries of injured and burnt people have spread from Sitakunda to all corners of the country. I will not go into the debate whether the Sitakunda incident is a mere accident or sabotage. Several investigation committees have been formed in this regard. I hope these investigative committees will uncover the truth. But many feared that such incidents would happen before the inauguration of the Padma Bridge. A few days ago, Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak said that there was a conspiracy to create unrest in Dhaka University and Garments. We were talking about different issues in private. He showed me a text message sent from a worker in Ashulia. The message informs about activities to create workers' dissatisfaction. Attempts were made to create a chaotic situation on the Dhaka University campus. But they did not get the desired 'corpse' they wanted. Garment workers also took to the streets for a few days. The government has handled that situation very well. In the midst of all this, the fire in Sitakunda. It just does not feel like a mere accident. After the Sitakunda incident, a festive mood was noticed in some people. This festive mood was targeted to the Padma Bridge. Immediately after the Sitakunda accident, rumors seemed to spread faster than the Sitakunda fire through various social media including Facebook. I got calls from various places. All strange and weird questions. Padma bridge is being inaugurated or not? Has the event been canceled? Etc. There must be some people in this society who did not want the Padma Bridge in this country. Now that the Padma Bridge has been hailed as a symbol of Bangladesh's glory, they want to gray out the moment of pleasance of that achievement. I wonder how can someone be so dumb. Who matched the inauguration of the Padma Bridge with an accident, why?

Ever since the Padma Bridge was ready, one incident after another has been happening in Bangladesh. The BNP is talking about mass uprising a year and a half before the election. The US Ambassador is constantly advising Bangladesh. Various manipulations in the rice market during the on season. And meanwhile, some ministers are talking very irresponsibly, which is making the people angry. For the first time in 13 years, the government is feeling the pressure on the economy. There is instability with the dollar. Added to this instability is the repeated change of decision of Bangladesh Bank. In the meantime, the budget was announced on Thursday. The budget is a pledge to address the economic crisis. But there is a planned attempt to spread more fear than the crisis in the economy. Some are spreading panic among the people. At first, I used to think that the government could not handle the situation. That is why there is growing uneasiness, anxiety and worry among the people. But the incident at Sitakunda and rumors about the inauguration of the Padma Bridge have opened my eyes. After everything, when the Padma Bridge is being inaugurated, the tale of corruption is being told again. My guess is that these seemingly isolated but planned events are taking place by targeting the Padma Bridge. Those who opposed the Padma Bridge, from the party point of view, are now jealous of this great achievement of Sheikh Hasina. Do they want to divert the attention of the people from this symbol of Bangladesh's self-respect? Is this the reason why such unpleasant events are taking place one after another? Attempts are being made to create a volatile situation. Panic of uncertainty is being spread in the minds of the people? The economic catastrophe in Sri Lanka started when the Padma Bridge was ready. There is no denying that some wrong decisions of the political leadership and Some aspiring mega projects are responsible for the situation in Sri Lanka. Some people seem to be desperate to make Bangladesh Sri Lanka. But in reality, the situation in Bangladesh is not even close to that of Sri Lanka. Then why try to confuse people? The only answer is Padma Bridge. I hoped that the BNP would show political wisdom about the Padma Bridge. They will welcome this achievement of the country. Awami League General Secretary and Bridges Minister has shown political wisdom and generosity in inaugurating the Padma Bridge. He said those who opposed the Padma Bridge would also be invited. There is no legal impediment in inviting the convicted Begum Zia, if there was, Obaidul Quader would have invited her too. I thought the BNP would take it positively. But a few days later, the BNP secretary general discovered the foundation stone of the Padma Bridge. I don't know if he got the foundation stone of Begum Khaleda Zia like an amulet found in a dream. However, Mirza Fakhrul could be awarded a medal for multiple rare discoveries. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir a few days ago claimed, ‘Begum Zia is a heroic freedom fighter.’ This caused a strong reaction among the freedom fighters of the country. Bangabir Kader Siddique strongly protested against this in his writings. Causing the BNP secretary general to go silent. Soon after that, he discovered a medal from Canada for Begum Zia. The BNP leaders stopped the BNP secretary general when this medal became a topic of joke in the country. This time he issued a fatwa about the foundation stone of the Padma Bridge. No wonder this has also become a great topic of humor in the country. A minister was in danger for commenting that the economic condition of the people is so good they drank two cups of tea. He was heavily roasted in various media and talk shows. But after the BNP secretary general's theory of 'foundation stone of Padma bridge', I did not see any reaction from the so called civils. Are they also heartbroken about the Padma Bridge like BNP?

There must be differences in ideology, policy and strategy between political parties. It is very normal and logical to have. But it is expected that all political parties will cherish the same thoughts about the country, sovereignty and the people. Not doing politics with the Liberation war, the interests and development of the country is the sign of healthy politics. But we see that opposing everything has become a disorder in our politics, whether it's good or bad. A motion of thanks was brought for the Prime Minister regarding the Padma Bridge, in the budget session of the National Assembly on Wednesday. In the debate, Rumin Farhana, a BNP MP elected without a vote, was playing the old record of corruption on the Padma Bridge. She cited rising construction costs as evidence of corruption. Since when did the increasing construction cost become corruption? I would like to give a few examples of responsive deployments. The estimated cost of building the Hawaiian Highway, known as the H-3, was 250 million. But the project was built at a cost of 1.3 billion dollars. That is about five times more than the estimated cost. The anti-corruption organization Transparency International is headquartered in Berlin. The estimated cost for Berlin's new airport was 2.84 billion euros. But Germany has to spend 9.4 billion euros to build it. That means its cost tripled at the end of construction. The US SSC (Super Conducting Super Collider) project is a scientific installation. It was planned to be built at a cost of 4.4 billion. After two years of construction, the cost increased to 9 billion. But then it turns out that the project will cost 11 billion to complete. This project was then canceled.

There are many such examples. Increasing the cost of such large projects is very normal. It is just ignorance to look for the link of corruption with it. The allegations of corruption made by the World Bank have been proved wrong in court. Did the World Bank actually stop financing the Padma Bridge because of corruption? Or did the regulators of the World Bank did not want Bangladesh to stand with its head high? The Padma Bridge is no longer a bridge, it is the foundation of our progress and pride. Just as the Shaheed Minar is a symbol of the glory of the language movement of '52, a symbol of the heroism of 3 million martyrs, the Padma Bridge is a symbol of our self-esteem and pride. The Padma Bridge has proved that we can. Bangladesh does not lose. So those who want to question this achievement and pride, are not actually the well-wishers of Bangladesh. They do not believe in Bangladesh.

In the war of liberation of '71, the Razakars and Al-Badrs of this country joined hands with the Pakistani aggressors. Several international superpowers took a stand against our independence and sided with the Pakistani force. By fighting against the three evil forces, we snatched our freedom under the leadership of the Father of the Nation. We also had to fight against the three evil forces over the Padma Bridge. International donors, including the World Bank, did not want the Padma Bridge. Just like ’71, some new Razakars have formed in the country, who spread the tale of corruption. They said that there would be no Padma bridge. And the western countries were also on their side. Just like the independence war of '71 they were against the Padma Bridge. As the brave Bengalis faced the enemy with their limited strength in ’71, the same is true for the Padma Bridge. Little by little the Bengali has built the Dream Padma Bridge. Just as the rich have tax money on the Padma Bridge, so do the poor rickshaw pullers, laborers money. The sister who works tirelessly all day in the garment factory, the expatriate who works hard and sends almost all the money to the country has their ownership in Padma Bridge. The Padma Bridge is a testament to the collective strength of the people of this country. Therefore, on the eve of the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, the people of this country wanted to see a unity in politics. Ordinary people like us expected that all the politicians of the country would come together on this occasion forgetting the political differences. Congratulate the people for their heroism. But we have seen the opposite picture. All the suicidal arrangements are going on silently to tarnish the achievement of Padma Bridge.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina occasionally said, ‘Bengalis are an unfortunate nation. There is conspiracy only when Bengalis are happy and well. A group is always ready and desperate to destroy all achievements of the country. This statement of the Prime Minister carries far-reaching significance. Analyzing the history, it is seen that every achievement of the Bengalis had to be realized through struggle. And there have been conspiracies on the path of every achievement. What is happening before the inauguration of the Padma Bridge reminded me of Sheikh Hasina's statement. Are those who have been consoling themselves for so long saying that Padma Bridge will not come about, have gone insane and trying to create a heated situation? Are they trying to divert people's attention from the Padma Bridge by setting fires, creating discontent among the garment industry workers, or creating disturbances in educational institutions? The Padma Bridge is a remarkable milestone under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. An advertisement of her courage. Do they really think it is so easy to intimidate a leader who dares to build the Padma Bridge along with the people? Before June 25, many more things may happen in Bangladesh. More rumors will be spread. Maybe something more will be done to make the situation worse. But the love of the people for the Padma Bridge will not fade away. The people can be temporarily misled by conspiracy. But in the end the victory is evident. Padma bridge is an advertisement of that truth. 

Author: Executive Director, Poriprekkhit.

poriprekkhit@yahoo.com

Source: Bangladesh Pratidin.