Padma Project: Muhith hits out at World Bank
Bridge works to begin this fiscal, he reaffirms
Dhaka, July 2 (UNB) – Turning down the World Bank’s graft allegation over Padma Bridge project, Finance Minister AMA Muhith told parliament on Monday that the Bank’s statement on the project is insulting for the country as well as the nation.
“I think that the World Bank has insulted this country through the statement, and there’s no logical base against their allegation,” he said while giving his statement in Parliament on Padma Bridge project issue following the cancellation of the loan deal by the World Bank.
He said the World Bank, the lead financer of the mega project, had wanted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government to address the corruption issue, which he also found ‘humiliating’.
The Finance Minister said the way the World Bank scrapped the loan deal was improper and their statement “undermined us as a nation”.
“The World Bank can’t blame a country or tarnish the dignity of the people of a country this way on the basis of unauthentic or imperfect allegations,” the irritant Finance Minister informed the lawmakers amid a pin drop silence in the House with
Speaker Abdul Hamid in the chair. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present.
Regarding the World Bank’s allegation of the government’s reluctance to deal with corruption in the Padma Bridge project, the Finance Minister said it was not correct that the government did not take proper steps to avert corruption.
“I think, we, going beyond our routine work, considered all the recommendations of the World Bank very softly in this regard,” he said.
About the proposed MoU with the World Bank over dealing with the corruption issue, Muhith said he informed the Bank that the understanding should be reached in accordance with what other development partners do through exchange of letters.
“I firmly believe that the high officials of the World Bank management know our efforts to curb corruption were not negligible at all,” he said.
Muhith alleged that the immediate past WB President took the imprudent decision to settle the issue within his tenure. “This specially devastated the image of Bangladesh.”
He, however, hoped that the government would engage in talks with the World Bank high officials any time.
“Our executive director is in negotiations with the World Bank, we’ve already arranged talks with other financers,” Muhith told the House.
He mentioned that he is always optimistic by nature and believes that the World Bank will reconsider their decision.
The Finance Minister categorically said that the government will start the construction work of Padma Bridge by this fiscal year.
On June 30, the World Bank formally canceled its US$1.2 billion IDA credit in support of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, the country’s largest-ever bridge, citing corruption concerns.
The Asian Development Bank was supposed to provide US$615 million, Japan International Cooperation Agency US$400 million and Islamic Development Bank US$140 million more for construction of the multipurpose bridge.
In April last year, the government signed a deal with the WB for a US$1.2 billion loan to construct the country’s longest US$ 2.9 billion bridge.
Jica was committed to funding $400 million for the Padma bridge project.
“I think that the World Bank has insulted this country through the statement, and there’s no logical base against their allegation,” he said while giving his statement in Parliament on Padma Bridge project issue following the cancellation of the loan deal by the World Bank.
He said the World Bank, the lead financer of the mega project, had wanted to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government to address the corruption issue, which he also found ‘humiliating’.
The Finance Minister said the way the World Bank scrapped the loan deal was improper and their statement “undermined us as a nation”.
“The World Bank can’t blame a country or tarnish the dignity of the people of a country this way on the basis of unauthentic or imperfect allegations,” the irritant Finance Minister informed the lawmakers amid a pin drop silence in the House with
Speaker Abdul Hamid in the chair. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was also present.
Regarding the World Bank’s allegation of the government’s reluctance to deal with corruption in the Padma Bridge project, the Finance Minister said it was not correct that the government did not take proper steps to avert corruption.
“I think, we, going beyond our routine work, considered all the recommendations of the World Bank very softly in this regard,” he said.
About the proposed MoU with the World Bank over dealing with the corruption issue, Muhith said he informed the Bank that the understanding should be reached in accordance with what other development partners do through exchange of letters.
“I firmly believe that the high officials of the World Bank management know our efforts to curb corruption were not negligible at all,” he said.
Muhith alleged that the immediate past WB President took the imprudent decision to settle the issue within his tenure. “This specially devastated the image of Bangladesh.”
He, however, hoped that the government would engage in talks with the World Bank high officials any time.
“Our executive director is in negotiations with the World Bank, we’ve already arranged talks with other financers,” Muhith told the House.
He mentioned that he is always optimistic by nature and believes that the World Bank will reconsider their decision.
The Finance Minister categorically said that the government will start the construction work of Padma Bridge by this fiscal year.
On June 30, the World Bank formally canceled its US$1.2 billion IDA credit in support of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, the country’s largest-ever bridge, citing corruption concerns.
The Asian Development Bank was supposed to provide US$615 million, Japan International Cooperation Agency US$400 million and Islamic Development Bank US$140 million more for construction of the multipurpose bridge.
In April last year, the government signed a deal with the WB for a US$1.2 billion loan to construct the country’s longest US$ 2.9 billion bridge.
Jica was committed to funding $400 million for the Padma bridge project.
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