<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the Padma Bridge has "overshadowed" BNP’s movement of last 14 years.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The Padma Bridge, a symbol of Bangladesh's capabilities, has expanded the horizon of the country's economic potential,” he said at a press briefing at the Setu Bhaban in the capital this morning, marking the one-year anniversary of the inauguration of the bridge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The road, transport and bridges minister said Tk 798.23 crore was collected as toll from the Padma Multipurpose Bridge in one year since its inauguration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Since the inauguration of the bridge, a total of 56,75,000 vehicles have used the bridge till 12 am&nbsp; today,” he said. “On an average, 15,500 vehicles use the bridge daily.”&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The minister hoped the amount of toll collection would hit Tk 800 crore by this afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Calling the bridge a “national treasure,” Quader called on everyone to protect and preserve it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said the Bangladesh Bridge Authority will have to repay the loan in 35 years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Around Tk 632.94 crore in loan have already been repaid in four installments,” Quader said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bridges Division Secretary Manzoor Hossain, Padma Bridge Project Director Shafiqul Islam, and senior officials of the Bridges Division, Bridge Authority, and Bridge Construction Project were present at the press briefing. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>