The fund that was allocated for the Padma Bridge project was not being transferred to any other sector, said Communications Minister Obaidul Quader.
He made the statement while addressing journalists at his secretariat office on Wednesday morning, following recent allegations that claimed that the fund allotted for Padma Bridge was being transferred to another sector.
He said: “As the construction work of the main bridge was yet to start, Tk5, 000 crore from the allotted fund is being returned.
“This amount will be added with the total fund that will be allocated for the Padma Bridge project in the next budget,” he added.
On February 17, Finance Minister AMA Muhith also said more funds would be allocated for the Padma Bridge project in the next budget.
Only small amounts of the allocated funds were spent for the construction of the approach road, Muhith said, adding that most of the fund remained unutilized in the current budget because the major contracts for the project were not awarded.
On March 16, the finance minister sent a letter asking the finance division not to cut funding for the Padma Bridge project in the revised budget for the draft Annual Development Programme in a bid to attract foreign investment.
The revised budget might be placed at a meeting of the National Economic Council to be held sometime after March 20.