Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam says Padma Bridge Rail Link viaduct remains safe despite temporary soil removal concerns.Photo : BSS

NARAYANGANJ, July 2, 2026 (BSS) - Rail, Road Transport and Bridges and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam today described the reports claiming that soil removal beneath the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project's viaduct has put the structure at risk as "completely baseless" and misleading.

Speaking after inspecting the soil removal work beneath the viaduct at Aliganj at Fatullah upazila here, he said the excavation was not being carried out in an unplanned or arbitrary manner. Instead, it is a part of the project's contractual obligation to restore the area to its original condition after construction.

"It is true that soil has been removed. However, the purpose behind the excavation was not properly reflected in the reports. Claims that the viaduct or railway line will be damaged due to unplanned soil removal are entirely unfounded," he said.

Explaining the technical aspects of the project, Robiul Alam said the 16.76 kilometer viaduct between Dhaka and Mawa was built across a low-lying wetland area. During the construction, temporary earth filling was required to facilitate the movement of heavy machinery and construction materials, a common practice in infrastructure projects around the world.

He said the project agreement requires the temporary fill to be removed after construction is completed so that the land can be restored to its natural state.

"All scientific and engineering calculations were taken into account in designing and constructing the viaduct. The removal of the temporary soil has no adverse impact on the structure; rather, it supports the restoration of natural environment," he added.

The minister stressed that the remaining earth should be removed quickly to preserve the area's natural ecosystem and ensure the normal flow of water.

He said temporary soil removal has already been completed along 14.41 kilometers of the 16.76-kilometre stretch, with only about 2.34 kilometers remaining.

Reaffirming the viaduct's structural integrity, Alam said there was no question of the safety of the structure being compromised, noting that it had been designed by qualified experts.

He added that the entire structure is technically sound and that the Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Railway are implementing the project according to plan in the national interest.

State Minister for Road Transport and Railways Habibur Rashid, Railways Secretary Md Fahimul Islam, Project Director Brig Gen Abul Hasnat Mohammad Sayem, Narayanganj City Corporation Administrator Sakhawat Hossain Khan, District Council Administrator Mamun Mahmud, Superintendent of Police (SP) Narayanganj Mizanur Rahman Munshi and other senior officials were also present during the inspection.