Padma Bridge: Muhith slams WB

DHAKA: Finance Minister AMA Muhith termed the statement of World Bank (WB) on much-talked-about Padma Bridge as ‘unacceptable’.

The finance minister came up with the observation while talking to journalists in a press conference arranged immediate after the World Bank canceled the fund.

In his briefing, he said, “I doubt whether WB can send such type of statement to any other member countries.”

“I think it is not from WB, it is a personal statement of outgoing WB president Robert Zoellick,” the journalists were told.

The ruling Awami League lawmaker said, “The statement of WB that `the government had not taken any step on Padma Bridge corruption’ is not right and we took all out efforts in last nine months to dispel doubt of the WB.”

Claiming no corruption in Padma Bridge ever, he said, “We have expended some Tk 1,500 crore and WB is suspecting all these as corruption.”

The senior parliamentarian also said, “We will give another elaborated statement in the parliament Monday in this regard.”

BDST: 2100 HRS, JUN 30, 2012

Edited by:
Abul Kalam Azad, Newsroom Editor
M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor