Bangladesh - July 08, 2024

Bangladesh - Recent

The Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, a monumental project in Bangladesh under the Belt and Road Initiative, is expected to directly benefit 80 million people and drive the country's economic growth by 1.5 percent upon full operation at the end of this year.

Spanning about 170 kilometers, the project starts from capital city Dhaka, passes through the Padma Bridge and extends southwest to Jessore, greatly enhancing passenger and freight transportation capacities along the line and bringing many development opportunities to 21 impoverished southwestern regions.

After nearly eight years of construction by China Railway Group Limited (CREC), the Padma Bridge was officially inaugurated in June 2022. Since then, the 7.7-kilometer bridge has become a landmark in Bangladesh.

Called the "Dream Bridge" by locals, the Padma Bridge features a dual-deck steel truss structure, with the upper level accommodating a four-lane highway and the lower level housing a single-track railway.

It ended the period when the only way of traveling from the southwestern regions to capital city Dhaka was taking ferries on the Padma River.

"During that time, we had to wait about 24 to 48 hours to cross the river. Accidents often happened on the water and many people drowned," said Mohammed Amharic, one of the vendors by the river bank.

The river's sandy and clay riverbed posed immense challenges during the construction.

Chinese engineers devised a solution of "slanting" steel piles into the riverbed to ensure stability of the bridge's foundation.

"For driving these three-meter diameter, six-centimeter thick steel pile tubes into the base of the Padma River, we utilized the largest pile driving hammer in the world. There are only three of these hammers worldwide, and all of them were used on this project. We spent around four years on this part of the project. It was hard work," said Shi Yuan, the project manager with the CREC.

According to Bangladesh's official statistics, over the past two years, the bridge has facilitated the passage of over 12.33 million vehicles, generating toll revenues exceeding 16.3 billion Bangladeshi Taka (or 138.73 million U.S. dollars).

Lipu Mojumder and Dipu Mojumder are brothers living in the Bachel Village not far from the Padma Bridge, for which they expressed their admiration.

"Last time, if we had any sick people or big problem, we needed to go [to] Dhaka, we needed a long time. So, sometimes people died, [they] could not wait. Now, anytime I can go [to Dhaka], easily I can go," said Dipu.

"All people now use the project. Only 45 minutes to go and come back 45 minutes, [that is] one hour and 30 minutes [in total]," said Lipu.

Building on achievements of the Padma Bridge, the ongoing construction of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project has brought a lot of job opportunities to locals, including Dipu and Lipu.

Village head Delwar Hawladar said that the project has created about 500 jobs for the village, while boosting commercial activities there.

"About 60 percent of our villagers are engaged in commerce. Now, it takes just one or two hours to reach Dhaka, making it incredibly convenient for deliveries. Moreover, the project has become a tourist attraction, attracting visitors from far and wide," said the village chief.

"Chinese companies, they have experience, and they can take any challenges and they can overcome the challenges. So, I think, that's why we liked a Chinese constructor to implement sustainable major project. We agree and we also appreciate the Chinese policy of One Belt One Road," said Afzal Hossain, the project director of the Bangladesh Railway Authority.

Shotlist:
Bangladesh - Recent:
1. Aerial shots of Padma River, boats, river bank;
2. Various of people on boat, getting off boat;
3. Vendor, local people;
4. SOUNDBITE (Bengalese) Mohammed Amharic, vendor (starting with shot 3):
"During that time, we had to wait about 24 to 48 hours to cross the river. Accidents often happened on the water and many people drowned.";
5. Various of local people at river bank;
6. Various of Shi Yuan, project manager of Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP) of China Railway Group Limited (CREC), talking with reporter;
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Shi Yuan, project manager, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), China Railway Group Limited (CREC) (starting with shot 6/ending with shot 8):
"For driving these three-meter diameter, six-centimeter thick steel pile tubes into the base of the Padma River, we utilized the largest pile driving hammer in the world. There are only three of these hammers worldwide, and all of them were used on this project. We spent around four years on this part of the project. It was hard work.";
FILE: Bangladesh - Date Unknown
8. Aerial shots of Padma Bridge Rail Link under construction;
Bangladesh - June 26, 2024
9. Various of traffic on Padma Bridge;
Bachel, Bangladesh - June 26, 2024
10. Various of villagers preparing for feast;
11. Children waving hands;
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Dipu Mojumder, villager, Bachel Village (starting with shot 11/ending with shot 13):
"Last time, if we had any sick people or big problem, we needed to go [to] Dhaka, we needed a long time. So, sometimes people died, [they] could not wait. Now, anytime I can go [to Dhaka], easily I can go.";
13. Various of villagers, children;
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Lipu Mojumder, villager, Bachel Village (starting with shot 13):
"All people now use the project. Only 45 minutes to go and come back 45 minutes, [that is] one hour and 30 minutes [in total].";
15. Various of villagers;
16. SOUNDBITE (Bengalese) Delwar Hawladar, village chief, Bachel Village (starting with shot 15/ending with shot 17):
"About 60 percent of our villagers are engaged in commerce. Now, it takes just one or two hours to reach Dhaka, making it incredibly convenient for deliveries. Moreover, the project has become a tourist attraction, attracting visitors from far and wide.";
17. Villagers;
Bangladesh - Recent
18. Various of train running on rail bridge;
19. Various of Dhaka Railway Station, travelers;
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Afzal Hossain, project director, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), Bangladesh Railway Authority (BRA) (starting with shot 19/ending with shot 21):
"Chinese companies, they have experience, and they can take any challenges and they can overcome the challenges. So, I think, that's why we liked a Chinese constructor to implement sustainable major project. We agree and we also appreciate the Chinese policy of One Belt One Road.";
21. Various of train running;
22. Aerial shot of Padma Bridge Rail Link.

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