A senior official of the World Bank (WB) Friday said the bank wants to start the construction of the Padma Bridge without further delay resolving the present stalemate considering its importance of the bridge on Bangladesh economy and region as well.

World Bank Vice President and Head of Network for Sustainable Development Rachel Kyte said this in a meeting with Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).

Dr Mahmud and Ms. Rachel are now in Doha to attend the 18th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Ms. Rachel told me that they are looking at the matter of Padma Bridge with high importance and want to start construction of the bridge without any delay,” Dr Mahmud told reporters after the meeting.

In the meeting, the environment minister underlined the importance of construction of the bridge saying it will not only be a great boost for economic development of Bangladesh but also a leap for the people of the most climate vulnerable people of the southern parts of the country linking the area with other parts including the capital Dhaka.

The bridge will not only be part infrastructure development but an important step to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people of the region, he said.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/8th-Dec-12