Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Ghulam Rahman on Wednesday
said their investigation into the alleged corruption in the Padma bridge
project was on the right track.
"Regarding overall investigation into the Padma bridge graft, we want to say that everything is under control and things are going in the right way," he told reporters at the ACC headquarters.
Leaving no 'loophole' the inquiry is going on with maximum alertness, he added.
Some officials of the Integrity Department of the World Bank raised graft allegations in the country's largest-ever infrastructure development project in September last year.
The development partner wanted the government to send on leave all the government officials relating to the project.
As the government failed to meet the conditions, the multinational global lender cancelled its credit for the $2.9 billion project on June 29, saying it had credible evidence of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of Canadian engineering giant SNC-Lavalin and some private individuals.
It set several conditions to revive its pledged $1.2 billion loan.
Later, former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain stepped down while former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain was sent on leave. Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Advisor Mashiur Rahman who was the Integrity Advisor to the Padma bridge project went on leave in mid-September.
The multinational lender, which decided to revive its loan commitment on Sep 21 after the Bangladesh government agreed to its terms and conditions, appointed an external panel early this month to oversee the ACC investigation.
The three-member panel in mid-October visited Dhaka and held several meetings with the top ACC officials. The World Bank's second team will arrive early in November to work out the procurement modalities of the project.
ACC Commissioner M Sahabuddin told reporters on Oct 15 that the World Bank had assured the ACC of helping in quizzing former SNC-Lavalin executives Ramesh Shah and Mohammad Ismail who are now languishing in jail after being arrested by the Canadian police.
The first World Bank team asked the ACC to provide it with necessary documents on the investigation, but the ACC sought time to provide those. The antigraft watchdog on Oct 23 sent the documents, information and data to the panel.
ACC chief Rahman on Wednesday said that they are yet to receive any feedback from the external panel.
"But we're in constant communication with them. They may send information anytime,' he added.
"Regarding overall investigation into the Padma bridge graft, we want to say that everything is under control and things are going in the right way," he told reporters at the ACC headquarters.
Leaving no 'loophole' the inquiry is going on with maximum alertness, he added.
Some officials of the Integrity Department of the World Bank raised graft allegations in the country's largest-ever infrastructure development project in September last year.
The development partner wanted the government to send on leave all the government officials relating to the project.
As the government failed to meet the conditions, the multinational global lender cancelled its credit for the $2.9 billion project on June 29, saying it had credible evidence of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of Canadian engineering giant SNC-Lavalin and some private individuals.
It set several conditions to revive its pledged $1.2 billion loan.
Later, former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain stepped down while former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain was sent on leave. Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Advisor Mashiur Rahman who was the Integrity Advisor to the Padma bridge project went on leave in mid-September.
The multinational lender, which decided to revive its loan commitment on Sep 21 after the Bangladesh government agreed to its terms and conditions, appointed an external panel early this month to oversee the ACC investigation.
The three-member panel in mid-October visited Dhaka and held several meetings with the top ACC officials. The World Bank's second team will arrive early in November to work out the procurement modalities of the project.
ACC Commissioner M Sahabuddin told reporters on Oct 15 that the World Bank had assured the ACC of helping in quizzing former SNC-Lavalin executives Ramesh Shah and Mohammad Ismail who are now languishing in jail after being arrested by the Canadian police.
The first World Bank team asked the ACC to provide it with necessary documents on the investigation, but the ACC sought time to provide those. The antigraft watchdog on Oct 23 sent the documents, information and data to the panel.
ACC chief Rahman on Wednesday said that they are yet to receive any feedback from the external panel.
"But we're in constant communication with them. They may send information anytime,' he added.
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