Write a Report on the World Bank's cancellation of the Padma Bridge Loan

''We will not Accept any Calumny''

Staff Correspondent

Criticizing the World Bank's cancellation of the Padma bridge loan over corruption allegations, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government would not take any blame for something it had not done.

 

“I am confident that we did nothing wrong. We will not accept any calumny. Why should we take the blame for an offense we had never committed?” The prime minister was speaking at the national council of Awami Swechhasebak League at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital.

 

"How could corruption take place when the World Bank did not disburse any money? Asked Hasina, president of the ruling party Awami League. She mentioned the government had so far spent Tk 1,500 crore on land acquisition and rehabilitation. And no corruption allegations had been raised said Hasina. She also said “Inshallah, we will be able to start the bridge's construction in time.

"We have to be bold to take the project forward. I know they [the WB] are very powerful but we want to say that Bangladesh won't bow to anyone."

 

Casting aside doubts that the government would not be able to build the bridge with its own funds, Hasina said she had received overwhelming response from common people and they had proved that the government was on the right path. The prime minister said if donors come up with offers to fund the project, the government would decide on it after scrutiny.

 

Later, she directed Awami Swechhasebak League leaders and activists to showcase the government's development activities and work to help build Bangabandhu's “Sonar Bangla”.