Govt to seek WB review: Muhith

DHAKA: Finance Minister AMA Muhith categorically said the government would ask the World Bank to review its decision to cancel funding for Padma Bridge after consulting with development partners.

The finance minister came up with the assertion while talking to journalists emerging from the conference of the deputy commissioners at the secretariat office in the city.

AMA Muhith made the remarks just one day after the cabinet decided to build the bridge with the own fund.

Beside, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically said the government would not request anymore to any donor agency for financing in much-talked-about Padma Bridge Project.

She, however, said: “If any donor agency comes willingly to finance the project, we will welcome. But, we will not urge to any donor agency further to fund the project.”

Sheikh Hasina said, “Earlier on Monday, we have decided in the cabinet meeting to begin Padma Bridge construction work by 2012 with country’s own fund.”

On June 29, the World Bank canceled a $1.2 billion credit for a Padma bridge project with immediate effect, saying it had “credible evidence” of a high-level corruption conspiracy among officials of Bangladesh government.

“In light of the inadequate response by the government of Bangladesh, the World Bank has decided to cancel its $1.2 billion credit in support of the Padma multipurpose bridge project, effective immediately,” the World Bank said in a statement.

The Washington-based development institution said it had provided evidence of corruption from two investigations into the Padma Bridge project to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and other senior government officials in an effort to press for action.

BDST: 2020 HRS, JUL 10, 2012

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