The World Bank (WB) has published its probe report on corruption allegations in the Padma Bridge project that raises some serious questions about high level government officials involved as well the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Finance Minister AMA Muhith has accepted the report as objective. While this is refreshing, the government now needs to ensure that those words are followed up with concrete outcomes.
The WB external panel investigation report has urged further investigation of four people charged with oversight of the project, including the former secretary of the Bridge Division.
The panel also raised serious questions about the independence of the ACC, which it claimed acts as a “puppet” of high level government officials. In particular, it pointed out the ACC’s decision to omit the name of the former communication minister from the charge sheet, in spite of evidence of possible corruption.
The withdrawal of the WB from the project is a serious loss for the country. Not only are we now in need of finding alternate, more expensive, private financing, but we are also deprived of the valuable technical assistance provided by the WB.
Bangladeshi governments don’t have a great track record of prosecuting the corrupt among their own ranks. The finance minister’s acknowledgement of the report and the willingness to publish it is a good start. However, the government now needs to provide proof of its intent by taking swift, decisive action to follow up on the recommendations of the report.