Unseen Bangladesh
Munshiganj District · Dhaka Division · পদ্মা সেতু ভিউ পয়েন্ট, মাওয়া
Padma Bridge viewpoint, Mawa travel guide
A superb view of the Padma Bridge, the country's biggest bridge; a popular riverside spot for fried hilsa.
At a glance
- Length
- 6.15 km (main bridge)
- Opened
- 25 June 2022 (road), 10 October 2023 (rail)
- Funding
- Entirely from domestic funds
- Spans
- 41
History and details
The Padma Bridge links Mawa in Munshiganj with Jajira in Shariatpur; through it 21 districts of the south-west are directly connected to Dhaka by road and rail. After the World Bank withdrew its funding, Bangladesh built the bridge with its own money — seen as a big achievement for the country.
The double-deck bridge has a four-lane road on top and a railway below. Because of the deep bed of the mighty Padma, its piles are among the deepest bridge piles in the world. Before the bridge, Mawa Ghat was a busy centre for ferry and launch crossings.
From those ferry-ghat days Mawa became famous for fried hilsa; now eating fresh hilsa at a riverside restaurant with a view of the bridge is a popular day trip for Dhaka people.
Things to do
- See the long line of the bridge from the riverbank
- Eat fried hilsa, fried aubergine and hot rice
- Take a boat on the Padma at sunset (safely)
How to get to Padma Bridge viewpoint, Mawa
From Dhaka along the expressway to Mawa, about 1 hour.
Munshiganj is about 27 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 1–1.5 hours.
- 🚌 By bus: Buses from Gulistan to Mawa or Munshiganj, fare ৳70–150.
- 🚢 By launch: Launch from Sadarghat to Munshiganj, fare ৳50–100.
Where to stay
The district town has basic and mid-range hotels (roughly ৳800–2,500). Government circuit houses and dak bungalows can be used with permission.
What to eat
Fried hilsa at Mawa Ghat, Bhagyakul sweets from Bikrampur
Good to know
- Stopping or taking photos on the bridge is not allowed
- Agree the price before buying hilsa
- The river is rough in the monsoon — wear a life jacket if you take a boat
More to see nearby
- Mawa resort area
- Arial Beel at Sreenagar (20 km)
- Bhagyakul Zamindar Bari (15 km)
More places to visit in Munshiganj district
- Idrakpur Fort — A Mughal river fort built by Mir Jumla around 1660; its round brick platform is still intact.
- Sonarang Twin Temples — Two tall temple towers side by side at Tongibari, examples of Bikrampur's old architecture.
- Arial Beel — A vast wetland in the monsoon, green fields and the wetland's sweet pumpkins in winter; a quiet place for a boat ride.