Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, the government will build Padma bridge for which the World Bank cancelled its pledged fund, with its own fund, if necessary.
She again outright rejected the World Bank's allegation of corruption in selection of the consultant for the coveted project and reaffirmed her government's position in Parliament that action will be taken against the guilty if charges of corruption against them are proved.
The Prime Minister responded to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim during her question-answer session on Wednesday.
Hasina said following the World Bank's fund cancellation, she already had a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank Governor, the Economic Relations Division and Finance Secretary regarding funding of the project.
"I've discussed with them how the construction work of the project can be started on our own fund. We must build the Padma bridge. It's not very much difficult to use our own reserve for this purpose by taking one billion dollars a year," she asserted.
Hasina further added: "We'll build the Padma bridge by any means Inshallah. It's possible if our economy moves on the right track despite the global economic meltdown."
"The World Bank has cancelled its funding. It's their will anyway. Others (lending agencies) can follow suit. We've a population of 160 million and 8 million expatriates to build the bridge."
She said the governments of many countries including Malaysia and many international agencies were interested in building the bridge under Public Private Partnership and under the Build-Own-Transfer basis. "Whatever decision we make, public interests will be given priority."
In her first reaction following the fund cancellation by the Washington-based global lender, the Prime Minister alleged that the World Bank came forward to pour money in the communications sector, but raised corruption allegations without any evidence.
"They didn't release even a single penny, then how can they say that corruption was committed [in the project]? Instead you'll find that it itself corrupt."
"It's essential to scrutinise who are behind it and what are their motives," she added.
Hasina urged all to go through the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine to know about the World Bank's corruptions.
She `pointed out that the World Bank had suspended funding in the power, energy and communications sectors due to corruptions of the BNP-led four-party government. She added that her government started the work to upgrade the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway into four-lanes with its own fund.
She said the Bank suspended funding for seven projects including Dhaka-Mymensingh Four Lane Project. But, she noted, the BNP-led government did not change any minister over the Bank's allegation of corruption.
The Prime Minister said her government during her first spell in power in 1996- 2001 had envisaged the Padma bridge project, but the subsequent BNP government suspended its construction.
"None could raise any question about the transparency at any stage of the land acquisition and rehabilitation programmes involving Tk 15 billion. Even the World Bank report says that no corruption was committed in the acquisition process."
Referring to the communication with the World Bank officials on the Padma bridge issue, Hasina said after the Awami League-led coalition took office in 2009, senior consultant of the World Bank Isabella Lawen arrived Bangladesh. "She gave me two papers containing allegation of corruption in two projects during the time of the previous BNP government."
"Even so, as the World Bank was insisting, we changed the Minister concerned, the Secretary and the Project Director without any proof of corruption against them," the Prime Minister said.
Hasina alleged that the World Bank had proposed the name of a company as the consultant to the project. "They had sent us letters thrice. Our special committee found that the company was fake. If it's a fact, how was corruption committed in the project?"
She again outright rejected the World Bank's allegation of corruption in selection of the consultant for the coveted project and reaffirmed her government's position in Parliament that action will be taken against the guilty if charges of corruption against them are proved.
The Prime Minister responded to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim during her question-answer session on Wednesday.
Hasina said following the World Bank's fund cancellation, she already had a meeting with the Bangladesh Bank Governor, the Economic Relations Division and Finance Secretary regarding funding of the project.
"I've discussed with them how the construction work of the project can be started on our own fund. We must build the Padma bridge. It's not very much difficult to use our own reserve for this purpose by taking one billion dollars a year," she asserted.
Hasina further added: "We'll build the Padma bridge by any means Inshallah. It's possible if our economy moves on the right track despite the global economic meltdown."
"The World Bank has cancelled its funding. It's their will anyway. Others (lending agencies) can follow suit. We've a population of 160 million and 8 million expatriates to build the bridge."
She said the governments of many countries including Malaysia and many international agencies were interested in building the bridge under Public Private Partnership and under the Build-Own-Transfer basis. "Whatever decision we make, public interests will be given priority."
In her first reaction following the fund cancellation by the Washington-based global lender, the Prime Minister alleged that the World Bank came forward to pour money in the communications sector, but raised corruption allegations without any evidence.
"They didn't release even a single penny, then how can they say that corruption was committed [in the project]? Instead you'll find that it itself corrupt."
"It's essential to scrutinise who are behind it and what are their motives," she added.
Hasina urged all to go through the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine to know about the World Bank's corruptions.
She `pointed out that the World Bank had suspended funding in the power, energy and communications sectors due to corruptions of the BNP-led four-party government. She added that her government started the work to upgrade the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway into four-lanes with its own fund.
She said the Bank suspended funding for seven projects including Dhaka-Mymensingh Four Lane Project. But, she noted, the BNP-led government did not change any minister over the Bank's allegation of corruption.
The Prime Minister said her government during her first spell in power in 1996- 2001 had envisaged the Padma bridge project, but the subsequent BNP government suspended its construction.
"None could raise any question about the transparency at any stage of the land acquisition and rehabilitation programmes involving Tk 15 billion. Even the World Bank report says that no corruption was committed in the acquisition process."
Referring to the communication with the World Bank officials on the Padma bridge issue, Hasina said after the Awami League-led coalition took office in 2009, senior consultant of the World Bank Isabella Lawen arrived Bangladesh. "She gave me two papers containing allegation of corruption in two projects during the time of the previous BNP government."
"Even so, as the World Bank was insisting, we changed the Minister concerned, the Secretary and the Project Director without any proof of corruption against them," the Prime Minister said.
Hasina alleged that the World Bank had proposed the name of a company as the consultant to the project. "They had sent us letters thrice. Our special committee found that the company was fake. If it's a fact, how was corruption committed in the project?"
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