Context

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country's new landmark multipurpose 'Padma Bridge' recently.

About

• This is the longest bridge in Bangladesh that will significantly reduce the distance between the capital city of Dhaka to the Mongla sea port, which is important for regional and international trade.
• The project was initially expected to be funded by a consortium led by the World Bank.
  • In 2012, it cancelled the proposed credit saying it had “credible evidence” of high-level corruption among Bangladeshi officials.
  • Bangladesh has all through denied these allegations and preferred not to approach the international global lender for funding.
• The construction was actually delayed due to the false and conspiratorial allegation of corruption brought by the World Bank which was the main financier of the project along with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), and Japan.
• It is a mega project of Bangladesh completely financed by the Government of Bangladesh. 
• The Benapole land port and Payra seaport will also be benefited due to the construction of the Padma Bridge.
• The main bridge is 6.15 kilometres long, while the railway viaduct is 0.532 kilometres long.
• The bridge stretches for a total of 10.642 kilometres with 41 spans attached to 42 pillars.