Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the Padma bridge will be named after the river as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has cancelled the proposal of naming the bridge after her.

“Lawmakers and people demanded for naming the bridge after her as she took the challenge of building it with the country's own fund,” he said.

He came up with the remarks while replying to a question of newsmen after visiting Likhon, a patient suffering from a rare disease, at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Quader, also Awami League general secretary said, on the basis of public opinion, the ministry earlier sent the proposal of naming the bridge as “Sheikh Hasina Padma Setu” to the Prime Minister's Office.

But the premier cancelled it, he added.

About the treatment of Likhon, Quader said he has been suffering from a rare disease for a long time.

 “After knowing about him through a newspaper report, I took the responsibility of bearing his treatment cost. Likhon also underwent a surgery. The treatment of the disease is quite expensive,” he added.