Padma Bridge deal with Malaysia
Obaidul sees no conflict with WB
Senior Correspondent
banglanews24.com
DHAKA: Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said any conflict would not be ensued with the World Bank over signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia for Padma Bridge Construction.
He hoped that the construction works of main infrastructure of Padma Bridge would start by next 10 months.
He came up with the statement while talking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning home from Malaysia on Wednesday night.
He said, “Bangladesh government would sign construction deal with Malaysia for Padma Bridge project upholding our national interest.”
Senior Information Officer of Communication Ministry Md. Abu Naser confirmed it to banglanews on Thursday morning.
In reply to a query, the minister said, “World bank is a top level financial organization. Some 30 projects in the country are running under finance of World Bank.”
He said, “The government has short time in hand. So, it signed MoU with Kula Lumpur for alternative funding as the World Bank kept dilly-dallying over the Padma Bridge issue.”
The MoU is the milestone for development of the bilateral relation of the two countries, he added.
As per MoU, the bridge will be constructed through Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) system. Malaysia would form a consortium of Malaysian companies to implement the project, he added.
Bangladesh has inked a deal with Malaysia on Tuesday to build the much-talked-about Padma Bridge connecting the southwestern region to the rest of the country.
Communications Minister of Bangladesh Obaidul Quader and Adviser of Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri S Samy Vellu signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.
Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak was present during the MoU singing.
The Malaysian Prime Minister talked to Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina over phone from the venue of MoU signing ceremony.
BDST: 1400 HRS, APR 12, 2012
Edited by: Rubaiat Saky, Newsroom Editor
SM Salahuddin, Output Editor