The World Bank has handed over its final probe report on the corruption plot in the Padma bridge project. Finance Minister AMA Muhith received the report from World Bank Country Director Johannes Zutt at his Secretariat office Tuesday morning.
After receiving the report, Muhith told journalists: “I cannot say anything about the contents as I have yet to open it.”
The government is yet to decide if the report will be disclosed to the public. The minister said he however has given approval to the WB for publishing the report on its website.
While hading over the probe report, Zutt said the Bangladesh government can construct the much-talked-about Padma Bridge with its own fund.
Zutt said: “We will not get involved in financing the Padma Bridge, and obviously, Bangladesh government has its own budget to construct it.”
He also said World Bank will grant $1.6bn as loan to Bangladesh for the current fiscal year and the same amount for the next fiscal, reports banglanews24.com.
On October 10, 2011, the World Bank suspended funding $1.2bn for the Padma Bridge project amid allegations of irregularities with it.
But the government of Bangladesh rejected the allegation of corruption. The World Bank earlier had promised to provide the fund to Bangladesh for constructing the 6.15km Padma Bridge.
Besides, the Asian Development Bank is also committed to providing $615m, while Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) $400m and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) $140m for building the gigantic bridge.
Later, ADB also denied to funding the bridge.
In this circumstance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League president reiterated that the Padma Bridge would be constructed with country’s own fund.
“We will show the world that we can by constructing the Padma Bridge with our own fund. We want to be self-reliance,” she said.
Later, Malaysia has proposed to provide $2300m for implementation of much-talked-about Padma Bridge project.
On March 15, visiting Malaysian delegation made the disclosure at a press conference in city’s Hotel Ruposhi Bangla.
On April 10 in 2012, the government of Bangladesh inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia for construction of Padma Bridge.
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.