MPs demand apology from World Bank

Following a Canadian court’s dismissal of the corruption case involving World Bank’s financing of the Padma Bridge Project, members of parliament have demanded an apology from the global lender. Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid initiated the discussion on the parliament floor on Sunday, demanding punishment of the conspirators. He asked the law minister for a statement. Law Minister Anisul Haque said he agreed with the other parliament members that the World Bank has to apologise to the prime minister. “The World Bank must apologise to Bangladesh, the prime minister and those accused in this case,” he said. “If they do not, the finance minister should send a protest note.” He also suggested that the victims of the false allegations should consult lawyers to launch a legal fight both in Bangladesh and Canada. Awami League MPs also demanded punishment of the conspirators behind bringing the false allegations that humiliated the nation and delayed the implementation of the project. Several ministers and MPs criticised the role of certain persons and the media for the false allegations and demanded their punishment. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed called “those involved in the conspiracy” the nation’s enemies. Earlier in his office, he pointed fingers at Dr Mohammad Yunus, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and some intellectuals of the country, saying they were behind the withdrawal of the World Bank funds. “The conspirators now have to apologise to the nation,” he said. AL Presidium member and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Abdul Mannan, Ziauddin Bablu, among others, rallied with the same demand in parliament. In her speech Matia Chowdhury said the World Bank itself is corrupt. Criticising the statement from the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) after the Canadian court’s verdict, she said: “Why do you ask the government to seek explanation from the World Bank now? Why do you not ask them yourselves? “We know you cannot ask them, because you are run by their money.” Recalling TIB’s role after the allegations, she said: “You said so many things then, and Dr Yunus played from behind.” Awami League MP Abdul Mannan suggested that the World Bank should be sued for the compensation for the loss of $1 billion for the  delay in the project. Syed Abul Hossain, the then communication minister, who had to quit cabinet amid uproar following the allegations, is now abroad, an official from his firm SAHCO told the Dhaka Tribune. SAHCO was also implicated in the allegations. Abul Hossain in a statement released after the Canadian court’s ruling said he and the other officials accused of corruption had been vindicated. Earlier on Sunday, Awami League Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud accused the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, a section of intellectuals and Muhammad Yunus of being conspirators behind the false allegations. He also demanded punishment for the conspirators through proper trial.