Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed officials concerned to advance plans for constructing a second Padma Bridge with a Y-shaped connectivity system, a second Jamuna Bridge prioritising connectivity to Rangpur and other northern districts and the Padma Barrage.

He gave the directives at a meeting with officials of the relevant ministries and divisions at the Prime Minister's Office in Bangladesh Secretariat this afternoon, said PM's Assistant Press Secretary Gazi Shahriar Pamir.

The meeting was informed that feasibility studies for the second Padma Bridge and the second Jamuna Bridge are under way. Final decisions on the locations, designs and estimated costs of the two bridges will be taken after the studies are completed in September next year.

Officials discussed the proposed Y-shaped connectivity system for the second Padma Bridge in detail. For the second Jamuna Bridge, emphasis was laid on improving connectivity to Rangpur and other parts of the northern region.

Once constructed, the second Padma Bridge would make communication between the capital and the south-western region easier. It would also provide an alternative connectivity network with Mongla Seaport and the Benapole and Darshana land ports.

The meeting also discussed the Padma Barrage project, focusing on addressing water shortages during the dry season, increasing agricultural production, maintaining river flows and environmental balance, and exploring the possibility of establishing road connectivity through the barrage.

Issues relating to project financing, land acquisition, rehabilitation and coordination among the relevant ministries and agencies also came up for discussion, Pamir said.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways Division Habibur Rashid, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Shipping and Bridges Division Md. Razib Ahsan, Finance Secretary Dr. Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Water Resources Secretary Dr AKM Shahabuddin, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr. Mohammed Ziaul Haque, Additional Secretary of the Water Resources Ministry Md. Enamul Haque, Bangladesh Bridge Authority Director Md Bhikharuddaula Chowdhury, Roads and Highways Department Chief Engineer Md Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh Bridge Authority Chief Engineer Md Abul Hossain and Padma Barrage Project Director Hasan Mahmud, among others, attended the meeting.