BANGLADESH

The communications minister has said the government has a budget outlay large enough to take care of Padma bridge project funding on its own.

"The government has a budget of Tk 1.5 trillion. Tk 200 million is not a large amount for the government," Syed Abul Hossain told reporters at his ministry on Wednesday responding to a query whether the government will look for alternative funding sources if the World Bank declines to oblige.

"The government can implement the project by allocating Tk 50 billion every year for four years," the minister said.

The World Bank has committed $1.2-billion fund for the country's longest bridge over the Padma River. However, it announced on Monday temporary suspension of the funding following allegations of corruptions in the execution of the project.

"The bank has levelled allegations of corruption during river dredging, appointment of consultants and preliminary selections. They have temporarily suspended the funding," finance minister A M A Muhith had said.

In response to the main opposition's allegation of corruption, the communications minister dared BNP to launch its own investigation.

In fact, Abul Hossain took the line he had taken in response to allegations of corruption and irregularities in his ministry previously.

He had invited Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International, Bangladesh to look into his ministry's activities.

BNP chief Khaleda had alleged that corruption and irregularities in the communications ministry were impeding construction of Padma bridge.

In response to Khaleda's remarks, Abul Hossain said there had been no corruption by the government in the project.

He said the tender evaluation committee comprising a World Bank official, Jamilur Reza Chowdhury and Ainun Nishat sent the list of consultation firms to the World Bank.

"No one from my ministry was appointed as member of the committee to avoid questions on corruption or transparency," he said.

"There is no scope to question the eligibility and integrity of the committee members," he added.

Besides, no one could question the transparency of the ministry now as the World Bank was yet to send its opinion, he said.

Construction of the $2.9-billion bridge over the river to connect the northwest of the country to the capital Dhaka and Chittagong port was expected to begin before the end of this year.