The mega Payra Bridge in southern Bangladesh, built by a Chinese firm, officially opened to traffic on October 24.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated the bridge, constructed over the Payra river some 200 km south of capital Dhaka, paving the way for local people to travel to other parts of the region without ferry.

The 1,470-meter-long, 19.76-meter-wide bridge was connected by cables, while it is 18.3-meter-high from the water level to ease movement of ships coming to and from Payra port.

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the OPEC Fund for International Development jointly financed the construction of the bridge, which was undertaken by Longjian Road and Bridge Cooperation Ltd of China.

In her speech, Prime Minister Hasina said climate change is affecting most of the southern region of the country, the development of which is very important.

She thanked development partners including the Chinese government for supporting her government's efforts to implement mega infrastructure projects in the southern region of the country.